Control of downlink multicast channel and data channel transmissions in a wireless network

ABSTRACT

A base station transmits configuration parameters of a plurality of cells to a wireless device. The plurality of cells are grouped into timing groups and control channel groups. A primary control channel group comprises a primary cell with a primary control channel received from the wireless device. A secondary control channel group comprises a control secondary cell with a secondary control channel received from the wireless device. The control secondary cell is in a first timing group of the timing group. In response to expiration of a time alignment timer of the first timing group: transmission of downlink shared channel transport blocks to the wireless device via a first secondary cell in the secondary control channel group is stopped and transmission of downlink multicast channel transport blocks to the wireless device continue via the first secondary cell. The first secondary cell is different from the control secondary cell.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/060,644 filed Mar. 4, 2016, which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/130,578, filed Mar. 9, 2016, and U.S.Provisional Application No. 62/133,944, filed Mar. 16, 2016 which arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Examples of several of the various embodiments of the present inventionare described herein with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting example sets of OFDM subcarriers as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an example transmission time and receptiontime for two carriers in a carrier group as per an aspect of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting OFDM radio resources as per an aspect ofan embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a base station and a wireless device as peran aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D are example diagrams for uplinkand downlink signal transmission as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 6 is an example diagram for a protocol structure with CA and DC asper an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an example diagram for a protocol structure with CA and DC asper an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows example TAG configurations as per an aspect of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an example message flow in a random access process in asecondary TAG as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10 is an example grouping of cells into PUCCH groups as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates example groupings of cells into one or more PUCCHgroups and one or more TAGs as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates example groupings of cells into one or more PUCCHgroups and one or more TAGs as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13 is an example MAC PDU as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 14A and 14B are example CQI tables as per an aspect of anembodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 15A and 15B are example diagrams illustrating timing of differentevents according to the current LTE-Advanced transceivers.

FIG. 16 is an example signaling flow and signal timing as per an aspectof an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an example signaling timing as per an aspect of an embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 19 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 20 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 21 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 22 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 23 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 24 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 25 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 26 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 27 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Example embodiments of the present invention enable operation ofmultiple physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups. Embodiments ofthe technology disclosed herein may be employed in the technical fieldof multicarrier communication systems. More particularly, theembodiments of the technology disclosed herein may relate to operationof PUCCH groups.

The following Acronyms are used throughout the present disclosure:

-   ASIC application-specific integrated circuit-   BPSK binary phase shift keying-   CA carrier aggregation-   CSI channel state information-   CDMA code division multiple access-   CSS common search space-   CPLD complex programmable logic devices-   CC component carrier-   DL downlink-   DCI downlink control information-   DC dual connectivity-   EPC evolved packet core-   E-UTRAN evolved-universal terrestrial radio access network-   FPGA field programmable gate arrays-   FDD frequency division multiplexing-   HDL hardware description languages-   HARQ hybrid automatic repeat request-   IE information element-   LTE long term evolution-   MCG master cell group-   MeNB master evolved node B-   MIB master information block-   MAC media access control-   MAC media access control-   MME mobility management entity-   NAS non-access stratum-   OFDM orthogonal frequency division multiplexing-   PDCP packet data convergence protocol-   PDU packet data unit-   PHY physical-   PDCCH physical downlink control channel-   PHICH physical HARQ indicator channel-   PUCCH physical uplink control channel-   PUSCH physical uplink shared channel-   PCell primary cell-   PCell primary cell-   PCC primary component carrier-   PSCell primary secondary cell-   pTAG primary timing advance group-   QAM quadrature amplitude modulation-   QPSK quadrature phase shift keying-   RBG Resource Block Groups-   RLC radio link control-   RRC radio resource control-   RA random access-   RB resource blocks-   SCC secondary component carrier-   SCell secondary cell-   Scell secondary cells-   SCG secondary cell group-   SeNB secondary evolved node B-   sTAGs secondary timing advance group-   SDU service data unit-   S-GW serving gateway-   SRB signaling radio bearer-   SC-OFDM single carrier-OFDM-   SFN system frame number-   SIB system information block-   TAI tracking area identifier-   TAT time alignment timer-   TDD time division duplexing-   TDMA time division multiple access-   TA timing advance-   TAG timing advance group-   TB transport block-   UL uplink-   UE user equipment-   VHDL VHSIC hardware description language

Example embodiments of the invention may be implemented using variousphysical layer modulation and transmission mechanisms. Exampletransmission mechanisms may include, but are not limited to: CDMA, OFDM,TDMA, Wavelet technologies, and/or the like. Hybrid transmissionmechanisms such as TDMA/CDMA, and OFDM/CDMA may also be employed.Various modulation schemes may be applied for signal transmission in thephysical layer. Examples of modulation schemes include, but are notlimited to: phase, amplitude, code, a combination of these, and/or thelike. An example radio transmission method may implement QAM using BPSK,QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, 256-QAM, and/or the like. Physical radiotransmission may be enhanced by dynamically or semi-dynamically changingthe modulation and coding scheme depending on transmission requirementsand radio conditions.

FIG. 1 is a diagram depicting example sets of OFDM subcarriers as per anaspect of an embodiment of the present invention. As illustrated in thisexample, arrow(s) in the diagram may depict a subcarrier in amulticarrier OFDM system. The OFDM system may use technology such asOFDM technology, SC-OFDM technology, or the like. For example, arrow 101shows a subcarrier transmitting information symbols. FIG. 1 is forillustration purposes, and a typical multicarrier OFDM system mayinclude more subcarriers in a carrier. For example, the number ofsubcarriers in a carrier may be in the range of 10 to 10,000subcarriers. FIG. 1 shows two guard bands 106 and 107 in a transmissionband. As illustrated in FIG. 1, guard band 106 is between subcarriers103 and subcarriers 104. The example set of subcarriers A 102 includessubcarriers 103 and subcarriers 104. FIG. 1 also illustrates an exampleset of subcarriers B 105. As illustrated, there is no guard band betweenany two subcarriers in the example set of subcarriers B 105. Carriers ina multicarrier OFDM communication system may be contiguous carriers,non-contiguous carriers, or a combination of both contiguous andnon-contiguous carriers.

FIG. 2 is a diagram depicting an example transmission time and receptiontime for two carriers as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention. A multicarrier OFDM communication system may include one ormore carriers, for example, ranging from 1 to 10 carriers. Carrier A 204and carrier B 205 may have the same or different timing structures.Although FIG. 2 shows two synchronized carriers, carrier A 204 andcarrier B 205 may or may not be synchronized with each other. Differentradio frame structures may be supported for FDD and TDD duplexmechanisms. FIG. 2 shows an example FDD frame timing. Downlink anduplink transmissions may be organized into radio frames 201. In thisexample, radio frame duration is 10 msec. Other frame durations, forexample, in the range of 1 to 100 msec may also be supported. In thisexample, each 10 ms radio frame 201 may be divided into ten equallysized subframes 202. Other subframe durations such as including 0.5msec, 1 msec, 2 msec, and 5 msec may also be supported. Subframe(s) mayconsist of two or more slots (e.g. slots 206 and 207). For the exampleof FDD, 10 subframes may be available for downlink transmission and 10subframes may be available for uplink transmissions in each 10 msinterval. Uplink and downlink transmissions may be separated in thefrequency domain. Slot(s) may include a plurality of OFDM symbols 203.The number of OFDM symbols 203 in a slot 206 may depend on the cyclicprefix length and subcarrier spacing.

FIG. 3 is a diagram depicting OFDM radio resources as per an aspect ofan embodiment of the present invention. The resource grid structure intime 304 and frequency 305 is illustrated in FIG. 3. The quantity ofdownlink subcarriers or RBs (in this example 6 to 100 RBs) may depend,at least in part, on the downlink transmission bandwidth 306 configuredin the cell. The smallest radio resource unit may be called a resourceelement (e.g. 301). Resource elements may be grouped into resourceblocks (e.g. 302). Resource blocks may be grouped into larger radioresources called Resource Block Groups (RBG) (e.g. 303). The transmittedsignal in slot 206 may be described by one or several resource grids ofa plurality of subcarriers and a plurality of OFDM symbols. Resourceblocks may be used to describe the mapping of certain physical channelsto resource elements. Other pre-defined groupings of physical resourceelements may be implemented in the system depending on the radiotechnology. For example, 24 subcarriers may be grouped as a radio blockfor a duration of 5 msec. In an illustrative example, a resource blockmay correspond to one slot in the time domain and 180 kHz in thefrequency domain (for 15 KHz subcarrier bandwidth and 12 subcarriers).

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C and FIG. 5D are example diagrams for uplinkand downlink signal transmission as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. FIG. 5A shows an example uplink physical channel.The baseband signal representing the physical uplink shared channel mayperform the following processes. These functions are illustrated asexamples and it is anticipated that other mechanisms may be implementedin various embodiments. The functions may comprise scrambling,modulation of scrambled bits to generate complex-valued symbols, mappingof the complex-valued modulation symbols onto one or severaltransmission layers, transform precoding to generate complex-valuedsymbols, precoding of the complex-valued symbols, mapping of precodedcomplex-valued symbols to resource elements, generation ofcomplex-valued time-domain SC-FDMA signal for each antenna port, and/orthe like.

Example modulation and up-conversion to the carrier frequency of thecomplex-valued SC-FDMA baseband signal for each antenna port and/or thecomplex-valued PRACH baseband signal is shown in FIG. 5B. Filtering maybe employed prior to transmission.

An example structure for Downlink Transmissions is shown in FIG. 5C. Thebaseband signal representing a downlink physical channel may perform thefollowing processes. These functions are illustrated as examples and itis anticipated that other mechanisms may be implemented in variousembodiments. The functions include scrambling of coded bits in each ofthe codewords to be transmitted on a physical channel; modulation ofscrambled bits to generate complex-valued modulation symbols; mapping ofthe complex-valued modulation symbols onto one or several transmissionlayers; precoding of the complex-valued modulation symbols on each layerfor transmission on the antenna ports; mapping of complex-valuedmodulation symbols for each antenna port to resource elements;generation of complex-valued time-domain OFDM signal for each antennaport, and/or the like.

Example modulation and up-conversion to the carrier frequency of thecomplex-valued OFDM baseband signal for each antenna port is shown inFIG. 5D. Filtering may be employed prior to transmission.

FIG. 4 is an example block diagram of a base station 401 and a wirelessdevice 406, as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.A communication network 400 may include at least one base station 401and at least one wireless device 406. The base station 401 may includeat least one communication interface 402, at least one processor 403,and at least one set of program code instructions 405 stored innon-transitory memory 404 and executable by the at least one processor403. The wireless device 406 may include at least one communicationinterface 407, at least one processor 408, and at least one set ofprogram code instructions 410 stored in non-transitory memory 409 andexecutable by the at least one processor 408. Communication interface402 in base station 401 may be configured to engage in communicationwith communication interface 407 in wireless device 406 via acommunication path that includes at least one wireless link 411.Wireless link 411 may be a bi-directional link. Communication interface407 in wireless device 406 may also be configured to engage in acommunication with communication interface 402 in base station 401. Basestation 401 and wireless device 406 may be configured to send andreceive data over wireless link 411 using multiple frequency carriers.According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, transceiver(s)may be employed. A transceiver is a device that includes both atransmitter and receiver. Transceivers may be employed in devices suchas wireless devices, base stations, relay nodes, and/or the like.Example embodiments for radio technology implemented in communicationinterface 402, 407 and wireless link 411 are illustrated are FIG. 1,FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, and associated text.

An interface may be a hardware interface, a firmware interface, asoftware interface, and/or a combination thereof. The hardware interfacemay include connectors, wires, electronic devices such as drivers,amplifiers, and/or the like. A software interface may include codestored in a memory device to implement protocol(s), protocol layers,communication drivers, device drivers, combinations thereof, and/or thelike. A firmware interface may include a combination of embeddedhardware and code stored in and/or in communication with a memory deviceto implement connections, electronic device operations, protocol(s),protocol layers, communication drivers, device drivers, hardwareoperations, combinations thereof, and/or the like.

The term configured may relate to the capacity of a device whether thedevice is in an operational or non-operational state. Configured mayalso refer to specific settings in a device that effect the operationalcharacteristics of the device whether the device is in an operational ornon-operational state. In other words, the hardware, software, firmware,registers, memory values, and/or the like may be “configured” within adevice, whether the device is in an operational or nonoperational state,to provide the device with specific characteristics. Terms such as “acontrol message to cause in a device” may mean that a control messagehas parameters that may be used to configure specific characteristics inthe device, whether the device is in an operational or non-operationalstate.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, an LTE networkmay include a multitude of base stations, providing a user planePDCP/RLC/MAC/PHYand control plane (RRC) protocol terminations towardsthe wireless device. The base station(s) may be interconnected withother base station(s) (e.g. employing an X2 interface). The basestations may also be connected employing, for example, an S1 interfaceto an EPC. For example, the base stations may be interconnected to theMME employing the S1-MME interface and to the S-G) employing the S1-Uinterface. The S1 interface may support a many-to-many relation betweenMMEs/Serving Gateways and base stations. A base station may include manysectors for example: 1, 2, 3, 4, or 6 sectors. A base station mayinclude many cells, for example, ranging from 1 to 50 cells or more. Acell may be categorized, for example, as a primary cell or secondarycell. At RRC connection establishment/re-establishment/handover, oneserving cell may provide the NAS (non-access stratum) mobilityinformation (e.g. TAI), and at RRC connection re-establishment/handover,one serving cell may provide the security input. This cell may bereferred to as the Primary Cell (PCell). In the downlink, the carriercorresponding to the PCell may be the Downlink Primary Component Carrier(DL PCC), while in the uplink, it may be the Uplink Primary ComponentCarrier (UL PCC). Depending on wireless device capabilities, SecondaryCells (SCells) may be configured to form together with the PCell a setof serving cells. In the downlink, the carrier corresponding to an SCellmay be a Downlink Secondary Component Carrier (DL SCC), while in theuplink, it may be an Uplink Secondary Component Carrier (UL SCC). AnSCell may or may not have an uplink carrier.

A cell, comprising a downlink carrier and optionally an uplink carrier,may be assigned a physical cell ID and a cell index. A carrier (downlinkor uplink) may belong to only one cell. The cell ID or Cell index mayalso identify the downlink carrier or uplink carrier of the cell(depending on the context it is used). In the specification, cell ID maybe equally referred to a carrier ID, and cell index may be referred tocarrier index. In implementation, the physical cell ID or cell index maybe assigned to a cell. A cell ID may be determined using asynchronization signal transmitted on a downlink carrier. A cell indexmay be determined using RRC messages. For example, when thespecification refers to a first physical cell ID for a first downlinkcarrier, the specification may mean the first physical cell ID is for acell comprising the first downlink carrier. The same concept may applyto, for example, carrier activation. When the specification indicatesthat a first carrier is activated, the specification may equally meanthat the cell comprising the first carrier is activated.

Embodiments may be configured to operate as needed. The disclosedmechanism may be performed when certain criteria are met, for example,in a wireless device, a base station, a radio environment, a network, acombination of the above, and/or the like. Example criteria may bebased, at least in part, on for example, traffic load, initial systemset up, packet sizes, traffic characteristics, a combination of theabove, and/or the like. When the one or more criteria are met, variousexample embodiments may be applied. Therefore, it may be possible toimplement example embodiments that selectively implement disclosedprotocols.

A base station may communicate with a mix of wireless devices. Wirelessdevices may support multiple technologies, and/or multiple releases ofthe same technology. Wireless devices may have some specificcapability(ies) depending on its wireless device category and/orcapability(ies). A base station may comprise multiple sectors. When thisdisclosure refers to a base station communicating with a plurality ofwireless devices, this disclosure may refer to a subset of the totalwireless devices in a coverage area. This disclosure may refer to, forexample, a plurality of wireless devices of a given LTE release with agiven capability and in a given sector of the base station. Theplurality of wireless devices in this disclosure may refer to a selectedplurality of wireless devices, and/or a subset of total wireless devicesin a coverage area which perform according to disclosed methods, and/orthe like. There may be a plurality of wireless devices in a coveragearea that may not comply with the disclosed methods, for example,because those wireless devices perform based on older releases of LTEtechnology.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are example diagrams for protocol structure with CAand DC as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention.E-UTRAN may support Dual Connectivity (DC) operation whereby a multipleRX/TX UE in RRC_CONNECTED may be configured to utilize radio resourcesprovided by two schedulers located in two eNBs connected via a non-idealbackhaul over the X2 interface. eNBs involved in DC for a certain UE mayassume two different roles: an eNB may either act as an MeNB or as anSeNB. In DC a UE may be connected to one MeNB and one SeNB. Mechanismsimplemented in DC may be extended to cover more than two eNBs. FIG. 7illustrates one example structure for the UE side MAC entities when aMaster Cell Group (MCG) and a Secondary Cell Group (SCG) are configured,and it may not restrict implementation. Media Broadcast MulticastService (MBMS) reception is not shown in this figure for simplicity.

In DC, the radio protocol architecture that a particular bearer uses maydepend on how the bearer is setup. Three alternatives may exist, an MCGbearer, an SCG bearer and a split bearer as shown in FIG. 6. RRC may belocated in MeNB and SRBs may be configured as a MCG bearer type and mayuse the radio resources of the MeNB. DC may also be described as havingat least one bearer configured to use radio resources provided by theSeNB. DC may or may not be configured/implemented in example embodimentsof the invention.

In the case of DC, the UE may be configured with two MAC entities: oneMAC entity for MeNB, and one MAC entity for SeNB. In DC, the configuredset of serving cells for a UE may comprise of two subsets: the MasterCell Group (MCG) containing the serving cells of the MeNB, and theSecondary Cell Group (SCG) containing the serving cells of the SeNB. Fora SCG, one or more of the following may be applied: at least one cell inthe SCG has a configured UL CC and one of them, named PSCell (or PCellof SCG, or sometimes called PCell), is configured with PUCCH resources;when the SCG is configured, there may be at least one SCG bearer or oneSplit bearer; upon detection of a physical layer problem or a randomaccess problem on a PSCell, or the maximum number of RLC retransmissionshas been reached associated with the SCG, or upon detection of an accessproblem on a PSCell during a SCG addition or a SCG change: a RRCconnection re-establishment procedure may not be triggered, ULtransmissions towards cells of the SCG are stopped, a MeNB may beinformed by the UE of a SCG failure type, for split bearer, the DL datatransfer over the MeNB is maintained; the RLC AM bearer may beconfigured for the split bearer; like PCell, PSCell may not bede-activated; PSCell may be changed with a SCG change (e.g. withsecurity key change and a RACH procedure); and/or neither a directbearer type change between a Split bearer and a SCG bearer norsimultaneous configuration of a SCG and a Split bearer are supported.

With respect to the interaction between a MeNB and a SeNB, one or moreof the following principles may be applied: the MeNB may maintain theRRM measurement configuration of the UE and may, (e.g. based on receivedmeasurement reports or traffic conditions or bearer types), decide toask a SeNB to provide additional resources (serving cells) for a UE;upon receiving a request from the MeNB, a SeNB may create a containerthat may result in the configuration of additional serving cells for theUE (or decide that it has no resource available to do so); for UEcapability coordination, the MeNB may provide (part of) the ASconfiguration and the UE capabilities to the SeNB; the MeNB and the SeNBmay exchange information about a UE configuration by employing of RRCcontainers (inter-node messages) carried in X2 messages; the SeNB mayinitiate a reconfiguration of its existing serving cells (e.g., PUCCHtowards the SeNB); the SeNB may decide which cell is the PSCell withinthe SCG; the MeNB may not change the content of the RRC configurationprovided by the SeNB; in the case of a SCG addition and a SCG SCelladdition, the MeNB may provide the latest measurement results for theSCG cell(s); both a MeNB and a SeNB may know the SFN and subframe offsetof each other by OAM, (e.g., for the purpose of DRX alignment andidentification of a measurement gap). In an example, when adding a newSCG SCell, dedicated RRC signalling may be used for sending requiredsystem information of the cell as for CA, except for the SFN acquiredfrom a MIB of the PSCell of a SCG.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, serving cellshaving an uplink to which the same time alignment (TA) applies may begrouped in a TA group (TAG). Serving cells in one TAG may use the sametiming reference. For a given TAG, user equipment (UE) may use onedownlink carrier as a timing reference at a given time. The UE may use adownlink carrier in a TAG as a timing reference for that TAG. For agiven TAG, a UE may synchronize uplink subframe and frame transmissiontiming of uplink carriers belonging to the same TAG. According to someof the various aspects of embodiments, serving cells having an uplink towhich the same TA applies may correspond to serving cells hosted by thesame receiver. A TA group may comprise at least one serving cell with aconfigured uplink. A UE supporting multiple TAs may support two or moreTA groups. One TA group may contain the PCell and may be called aprimary TAG (pTAG). In a multiple TAG configuration, at least one TAgroup may not contain the PCell and may be called a secondary TAG(sTAG). Carriers within the same TA group may use the same TA value andthe same timing reference. When DC is configured, cells belonging to acell group (MCG or SCG) may be grouped into multiple TAGs including apTAG and one or more sTAGs.

FIG. 8 shows example TAG configurations as per an aspect of anembodiment of the present invention. In Example 1, pTAG comprises PCell,and an sTAG comprises SCell1. In Example 2, a pTAG comprises a PCell andSCell1, and an sTAG comprises SCell2 and SCell3. In Example 3, pTAGcomprises PCell and SCell1, and an sTAG1 includes SCell2 and SCell3, andsTAG2 comprises SCell4. Up to four TAGs may be supported in a cell group(MCG or SCG) and other example TAG configurations may also be provided.In various examples in this disclosure, example mechanisms are describedfor a pTAG and an sTAG. The operation with one example sTAG isdescribed, and the same operation may be applicable to other sTAGs. Theexample mechanisms may be applied to configurations with multiple sTAGs.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, TA maintenance,pathloss reference handling and a timing reference for a pTAG may followLTE release 10 principles in the MCG and/or SCG. The UE may need tomeasure downlink pathloss to calculate uplink transmit power. A pathlossreference may be used for uplink power control and/or transmission ofrandom access preamble(s). UE may measure downlink pathloss usingsignals received on a pathloss reference cell. For SCell(s) in a pTAG,the choice of a pathloss reference for cells may be selected from and/orbe limited to the following two options: a) the downlink SCell linked toan uplink SCell using system information block 2 (SIB2), and b) thedownlink pCell. The pathloss reference for SCells in a pTAG may beconfigurable using RRC message(s) as a part of an SCell initialconfiguration and/or reconfiguration. According to some of the variousaspects of embodiments, a PhysicalConfigDedicatedSCell informationelement (IE) of an SCell configuration may include a pathloss referenceSCell (downlink carrier) for an SCell in a pTAG. The downlink SCelllinked to an uplink SCell using system information block 2 (SIB2) may bereferred to as the SIB2 linked downlink of the SCell. Different TAGs mayoperate in different bands. For an uplink carrier in an sTAG, thepathloss reference may be only configurable to the downlink SCell linkedto an uplink SCell using the system information block 2 (SIB2) of theSCell.

To obtain initial uplink (UL) time alignment for an sTAG, an eNB mayinitiate an RA procedure. In an sTAG, a UE may use one of any activatedSCells from this sTAG as a timing reference cell. In an exampleembodiment, the timing reference for SCells in an sTAG may be the SIB2linked downlink of the SCell on which the preamble for the latest RAprocedure was sent. There may be one timing reference and one timealignment timer (TAT) per TA group. A TAT for TAGs may be configuredwith different values. In a MAC entity, when a TAT associated with apTAG expires: all TATs may be considered as expired, the UE may flushHARQ buffers of serving cells, the UE may clear any configured downlinkassignment/uplink grants, and the RRC in the UE may release PUCCH/SRSfor all configured serving cells. When the pTAG TAT is not running, ansTAG TAT may not be running. When the TAT associated with an sTAGexpires: a) SRS transmissions may be stopped on the correspondingSCells, b) SRS RRC configuration may be released, c) CSI reportingconfiguration for corresponding SCells may be maintained, and/or d) theMAC in the UE may flush the uplink HARQ buffers of the correspondingSCells.

An eNB may initiate an RA procedure via a PDCCH order for an activatedSCell. This PDCCH order may be sent on a scheduling cell of this SCell.When cross carrier scheduling is configured for a cell, the schedulingcell may be different than the cell that is employed for preambletransmission, and the PDCCH order may include an SCell index. At least anon-contention based RA procedure may be supported for SCell(s) assignedto sTAG(s).

FIG. 9 is an example message flow in a random access process in asecondary TAG as per an aspect of an embodiment of the presentinvention. An eNB transmits an activation command 600 to activate anSCell. A preamble 602 (Msg1) may be sent by a UE in response to a PDCCHorder 601 on an SCell belonging to an sTAG. In an example embodiment,preamble transmission for SCells may be controlled by the network usingPDCCH format 1A. Msg2 message 603 (RAR: random access response) inresponse to the preamble transmission on the SCell may be addressed toRA-RNTI in a PCell common search space (CSS). Uplink packets 604 may betransmitted on the SCell in which the preamble was transmitted.

According to some of the various aspects of embodiments, initial timingalignment may be achieved through a random access procedure. This mayinvolve a UE transmitting a random access preamble and an eNB respondingwith an initial TA command NTA (amount of timing advance) within arandom access response window. The start of the random access preamblemay be aligned with the start of a corresponding uplink subframe at theUE assuming NTA=0. The eNB may estimate the uplink timing from therandom access preamble transmitted by the UE. The TA command may bederived by the eNB based on the estimation of the difference between thedesired UL timing and the actual UL timing. The UE may determine theinitial uplink transmission timing relative to the correspondingdownlink of the sTAG on which the preamble is transmitted.

The mapping of a serving cell to a TAG may be configured by a servingeNB with RRC signaling. The mechanism for TAG configuration andreconfiguration may be based on RRC signaling. According to some of thevarious aspects of embodiments, when an eNB performs an SCell additionconfiguration, the related TAG configuration may be configured for theSCell. In an example embodiment, an eNB may modify the TAG configurationof an SCell by removing (releasing) the SCell and adding (configuring) anew SCell (with the same physical cell ID and frequency) with an updatedTAG ID. The new SCell with the updated TAG ID may initially be inactivesubsequent to being assigned the updated TAG ID. The eNB may activatethe updated new SCell and start scheduling packets on the activatedSCell. In an example implementation, it may not be possible to changethe TAG associated with an SCell, but rather, the SCell may need to beremoved and a new SCell may need to be added with another TAG. Forexample, if there is a need to move an SCell from an sTAG to a pTAG, atleast one RRC message, for example, at least one RRC reconfigurationmessage, may be send to the UE to reconfigure TAG configurations byreleasing the SCell and then configuring the SCell as a part of the pTAG(when an SCell is added/configured without a TAG index, the SCell may beexplicitly assigned to the pTAG). The PCell may not change its TA groupand may always be a member of the pTAG.

The purpose of an RRC connection reconfiguration procedure may be tomodify an RRC connection, (e.g. to establish, modify and/or release RBs,to perform handover, to setup, modify, and/or release measurements, toadd, modify, and/or release SCells). If the received RRC ConnectionReconfiguration message includes the sCellToReleaseList, the UE mayperform an SCell release. If the received RRC Connection Reconfigurationmessage includes the sCellToAddModList, the UE may perform SCelladditions or modification.

In LTE Release-10 and Release-11 CA, a PUCCH is only transmitted on thePCell (PSCell) to an eNB. In LTE-Release 12 and earlier, a UE maytransmit PUCCH information on one cell (PCell or PSCell) to a given eNB.

As the number of CA capable UEs and also the number of aggregatedcarriers increase, the number of PUCCHs and also the PUCCH payload sizemay increase. Accommodating the PUCCH transmissions on the PCell maylead to a high PUCCH load on the PCell. A PUCCH on an SCell may beintroduced to offload the PUCCH resource from the PCell. More than onePUCCH may be configured for example, a PUCCH on a PCell and anotherPUCCH on an SCell. FIG. 10 is an example grouping of cells into PUCCHgroups as per an aspect of an embodiment of the present invention. Inthe example embodiments, one, two or more cells may be configured withPUCCH resources for transmitting CSI/ACK/NACK to a base station. Cellsmay be grouped into multiple PUCCH groups, and one or more cell within agroup may be configured with a PUCCH. In an example configuration, oneSCell may belong to one PUCCH group. SCells with a configured PUCCHtransmitted to a base station may be called a PUCCH SCell, and a cellgroup with a common PUCCH resource transmitted to the same base stationmay be called a PUCCH group.

In Release-12, a PUCCH can be configured on a PCell and/or a PSCell, butcannot be configured on other SCells. In an example embodiment, a UE maytransmit a message indicating that the UE supports PUCCH configurationon a PCell and SCell. Such an indication may be separate from anindication of of dual connectivity support by the UE. In an exampleembodiment, a UE may support both DC and PUCCH groups. In an exampleembodiment, either DC or PUCCH groups may be configured, but not both.In another example embodiment, more complicated configurationscomprising both DC and PUCCH groups may be supported.

When a UE is capable of configuring PUCCH groups, and if a UE indicatesthat it supports simultaneous PUCCH/PUSCH transmission capability, itmay imply that the UE supports simultaneous PUCCH/PUSCH transmission onboth PCell and SCell. When multiple PUCCH groups are configured, a PUCCHmay be configured or not configured with simultaneous PUCCH/PUSCHtransmission.

In an example embodiment, PUCCH transmission to a base station on twoserving cells may be realized as shown in FIG. 10. A first group ofcells may employ a PUCCH on the PCell and may be called PUCCH group 1 ora primary PUCCH group. A second group of cells may employ a PUCCH on anSCell and may be called PUCCH group 2 or a secondary PUCCH group. One,two or more PUCCH groups may be configured. In an example, cells may begrouped into two PUCCH groups, and each PUCCH group may include a cellwith PUCCH resources. A PCell may provide PUCCH resources for theprimary PUCCH group and an SCell in the secondary PUCCH group mayprovide PUCCH resources for the cells in the secondary PUCCH group. Inan example embodiment, no cross-carrier scheduling between cells indifferent PUCCH groups may be configured. When cross-carrier schedulingbetween cells in different PUCCH groups is not configured, ACK/NACK onPHICH channel may be limited within a PUCCH group. Both downlink anduplink scheduling activity may be separate between cells belonging todifferent PUCCH groups.

A PUCCH on an SCell may carry HARQ-ACK and CSI information. A PCell maybe configured with PUCCH resources. In an example embodiment, RRCparameters for an SCell PUCCH Power Control for a PUCCH on an SCell maybe different from those of a PCell PUCCH. A Transmit Power Controlcommand for a PUCCH on an SCell may be transmitted in DCI(s) on theSCell carrying the PUCCH.

UE procedures on a PUCCH transmission may be different and/orindependent between PUCCH groups. For example, determination of DLHARQ-ACK timing, PUCCH resource determination for HARQ-ACK and/or CSI,Higher-layer configuration of simultaneous HARQ-ACK+CSI on a PUCCH,Higher-layer configuration of simultaneous HARQ-ACK+SRS in one subframemay be configured differently for a PUCCH PCell and a PUCCH SCell.

A PUCCH group may be a group of serving cells configured by a RRC anduse the same serving cell in the group for transmission of a PUCCH. APrimary PUCCH group may be a PUCCH group containing a PCell. A secondaryPUCCH group may be a PUCCH cell group not containing the PCell. In anexample embodiment, an SCell may belong to one PUCCH group. When oneSCell belongs to a PUCCH group, ACK/NACK or CSI for that SCell may betransmitted over the PUCCH in that PUCCH group (over PUCCH SCell orPUCCH PCell). A PUCCH on an SCell may reduce the PUCCH load on thePCell. A PUCCH SCell may be employed for UCI transmission of SCells inthe corresponding PUCCH group.

In an example embodiment, a flexible PUCCH configuration in whichcontrol signalling is sent on one, two or more PUCCHs may be possible.Beside the PCell, it may be possible to configure a selected number ofSCells for PUCCH transmission (herein called PUCCH SCells). Controlsignalling information conveyed in a certain PUCCH SCell may be relatedto a set of SCells in a corresponding PUCCH group that are configured bythe network via RRC signalling.

PUCCH control signalling carried by a PUCCH channel may be distributedbetween a PCell and SCells for off-loading or robustness purposes. Byenabling a PUCCH in an SCell, it may be possible to distribute theoverall CSI reports for a given UE between a PCell and a selected numberof SCells (e.g. PUCCH SCells), thereby limiting PUCCH CSI resourceconsumption by a given UE on a certain cell. It may be possible to mapCSI reports for a certain SCell to a selected PUCCH SCell. An SCell maybe assigned a certain periodicity and time-offset for transmission ofcontrol information. Periodic CSI for a serving cell may be mapped on aPUCCH (on the PCell or on a PUCCH-SCell) via RRC signalling. Thepossibility of distributing CSI reports, HARQ feedbacks, and/orScheduling Requests across PUCCH SCells may provide flexibility andcapacity improvements. HARQ feedback for a serving cell may be mapped ona PUCCH (on the PCell or on a PUCCH SCell) via RRC signalling.

In example embodiments, PUCCH transmission may be configured on a PCell,as well as one SCell in CA. An SCell PUCCH may be realized using theconcept of PUCCH groups, where aggregated cells are grouped into two ormore PUCCH groups. One cell from a PUCCH group may be configured tocarry a PUCCH. More than 5 carriers may be configured. In the exampleembodiments, up to n carriers may be aggregated. For example, n may be16, 32, or 64. Some CCs may have non-backward compatible configurationssupporting only advanced UEs (e.g. support licensed assisted accessSCells). In an example embodiment, one SCell PUCCH (e.g. two PUCCHgroups) may be supported. In another example embodiment, a PUCCH groupconcept with multiple (more than one) SCells carrying PUCCH may beemployed (e.g., there can be more than two PUCCH groups).

In an example embodiment, a given PUCCH group may not comprise servingcells of both MCG and SCG. One of the PUCCHs may be configured on thePCell. In an example embodiment, PUCCH mapping of serving cells may beconfigured by RRC messages. In an example embodiment, a maximum value ofan SCellIndex and a ServCellIndex may be 31 (ranging from 0 to 31). Inan example, a maximum value of stag-Id may be 3. The CIF for a scheduledcell may be configured explicitly. A PUCCH SCell may be configured bygiving a PUCCH configuration for an SCell. A HARQ feedback and CSIreport of a PUCCH SCell may be sent on the PUCCH of that PUCCH SCell.The HARQ feedback and CSI report of a SCell may sent on a PUCCH of aPCell if no PUCCH SCell is signalled for that SCell. The HARQ feedbackand CSI report of an SCell may be sent on the PUCCH of one PUCCH SCell;hence they may not be sent on the PUCCH of different PUCCH SCell. The UEmay report a Type 2 PH for serving cells configured with a PUCCH. In anexample embodiment, a MAC activation/deactivation may be supported for aPUCCH SCell. An eNB may manage the activation/deactivation status forSCells. A newly added PUCCH SCell may be initially deactivated.

In an example embodiment, independent configuration of PUCCH groups andTAGs may be supported. FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 show example configurationsof TAGs and PUCCH groups. For example, one TAG may contain multipleserving cells with a PUCCH. For example, each TAG may only comprisecells of one PUCCH group. For example, a TAG may comprise the servingcells (without a PUCCH) which belong to different PUCCH groups.

There may not be a one-to-one mapping between TAGs and PUCCH groups. Forexample, in a configuration, a PUCCH SCell may belong to primary TAG. Inan example implementation, the serving cells of one PUCCH group may bein different TAGs and serving cells of one TAG may be in different PUCCHgroups. Configuration of PUCCH groups and TAGs may be left to eNBimplementation. In another example implementation, restriction(s) on theconfiguration of a PUCCH cell may be specified. For example, in anexample embodiment, cells in a given PUCCH group may belong to the sameTAG. In an example, an sTAG may only comprise cells of one PUCCH group.In an example, one-to-one mapping between TAGs and PUCCH groups may beimplemented. In implementation, cell configurations may be limited tosome of the examples. In other implementations, some or all the belowconfigurations may be allowed.

In an example embodiment, for an SCell in a pTAG, the timing referencemay be a PCell. For an SCell in an sTAG, the timing reference may be anyactivated SCell in the sTAG. For an SCell (configured with PUCCH or not)in a pTAG, a pathloss reference may be configured to be a PCell or anSIB-2 linked SCell. For an SCell in a sTAG, the pathloss reference maybe the SIB-2 linked SCell. When a TAT associated with a pTAG is expired,the TAT associated with sTAGs may be considered as expired. When a TATof an sTAG containing PUCCH SCell expires, the MAC may indicate to anRRC to release PUCCH resource for the PUCCH group. When the TAT of ansTAG containing a PUCCH SCell is not running, the uplink transmission(PUSCH) for SCells in the secondary PUCCH group not belonging to thesTAG including the PUCCH SCell may not be impacted. The TAT expiry of ansTAG containing a PUCCH SCell may not trigger TAT expiry of other TAGsto which other SCells in the same PUCCH group belong. When the TATassociated with sTAG not containing a PUCCH SCell is not running, thewireless device may stop the uplink transmission for the SCell in thesTAG and may not impact other TAGs.

In an example embodiment, a MAC entity may have a configurable timertimeAlignmentTimer per TAG. The timeAlignmentTimer may be used tocontrol how long the MAC entity considers the Serving Cells belonging tothe associated TAG to be uplink time aligned. The MAC entity may, when aTiming Advance Command MAC control element is received, apply the TimingAdvance Command for the indicated TAG; start or restart thetimeAlignmentTimer associated with the indicated TAG. The MAC entitymay, when a Timing Advance Command is received in a Random AccessResponse message for a serving cell belonging to a TAG and/or if theRandom Access Preamble was not selected by the MAC entity, apply theTiming Advance Command for this TAG and start or restart thetimeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG. Otherwise, if thetimeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG is not running, the TimingAdvance Command for this TAG may be applied and the timeAlignmentTimerassociated with this TAG started. When the contention resolution isconsidered not successful, a timeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAGmay be stopped. Otherwise, the MAC entity may ignore the received TimingAdvance Command.

Example embodiments of the invention may enable operation of multiplePUCCH groups. Other example embodiments may comprise a non-transitorytangible computer readable media comprising instructions executable byone or more processors to cause operation of PUCCH groups. Yet otherexample embodiments may comprise an article of manufacture thatcomprises a non-transitory tangible computer readable machine-accessiblemedium having instructions encoded thereon for enabling programmablehardware to cause a device (e.g. wireless communicator, UE, basestation, etc.) to enable operation of PUCCH groups. The device mayinclude processors, memory, interfaces, and/or the like. Other exampleembodiments may comprise communication networks comprising devices suchas base stations, wireless devices (or user equipment: UE), servers,switches, antennas, and/or the like. In an example embodiment one ormore TAGs may be configured along with PUCCH group configuration.

FIG. 13 is an example MAC PDU as per an aspect of an embodiment of thepresent invention. In an example embodiment, a MAC PDU may comprise of aMAC header, zero or more MAC Service Data Units (MAC SDU), zero or moreMAC control elements, and optionally padding. The MAC header and the MACSDUs may be of variable sizes. A MAC PDU header may comprise one or moreMAC PDU subheaders. A subheader may correspond to either a MAC SDU, aMAC control element or padding. A MAC PDU subheader may comprise headerfields R, F2, E, LCID, F, and/or L. The last subheader in the MAC PDUand subheaders for fixed sized MAC control elements may comprise thefour header fields R, F2, E, and/or LCID. A MAC PDU subheadercorresponding to padding may comprise the four header fields R, F2, E,and/or LCID.

In an example embodiment, LCID or Logical Channel ID field may identifythe logical channel instance of the corresponding MAC SDU or the type ofthe corresponding MAC control element or padding. There may be one LCIDfield for a MAC SDU, MAC control element or padding included in the MACPDU. In addition to that, one or two additional LCID fields may beincluded in the MAC PDU when single-byte or two-byte padding is requiredbut cannot be achieved by padding at the end of the MAC PDU. The LCIDfield size may be, e.g. 5 bits. L or the Length field may indicate thelength of the corresponding MAC SDU or variable-sized MAC controlelement in bytes. There may be one L field per MAC PDU subheader exceptfor the last subheader and subheaders corresponding to fixed-sized MACcontrol elements. The size of the L field may be indicated by the Ffield and F2 field. The F or the Format field may indicate the size ofthe Length field. There may be one F field per MAC PDU subheader exceptfor the last subheader and subheaders corresponding to fixed-sized MACcontrol elements and expect for when F2 is set to 1. The size of the Ffield may be 1 bit. In an example, if the F field is included, and/or ifthe size of the MAC SDU or variable-sized MAC control element is lessthan 128 bytes, the value of the F field is set to 0, otherwise it isset to 1. The F2 or the Format2 field may indicate the size of theLength field. There may be one F2 field per MAC PDU subheader. The sizeof the F2 field may be 1 bit. In an example, if the size of the MAC SDUor variable-sized MAC control element is larger than 32767 bytes and ifthe corresponding subheader is not the last subheader, the value of theF2 field may be set to 1, otherwise it is set to 0. The E or theExtension field may be a flag indicating if more fields are present inthe MAC header or not. The E field may be set to “1” to indicate anotherset of at least R/F2/E/LCID fields. The E field may be set to “0” toindicate that either a MAC SDU, a MAC control element or padding startsat the next byte. R or reserved bit, set to “0”.

MAC PDU subheaders may have the same order as the corresponding MACSDUs, MAC control elements and padding. MAC control elements may beplaced before any MAC SDU. Padding may occur at the end of the MAC PDU,except when single-byte or two-byte padding is required. Padding mayhave any value and the MAC entity may ignore it. When padding isperformed at the end of the MAC PDU, zero or more padding bytes may beallowed. When single-byte or two-byte padding is required, one or twoMAC PDU subheaders corresponding to padding may be placed at thebeginning of the MAC PDU before any other MAC PDU subheader. In anexample, a maximum of one MAC PDU may be transmitted per TB per MACentity, a maximum of one MCH MAC PDU can be transmitted per TTI.

At least one RRC message may provide configuration parameters for atleast one cell and configuration parameters for PUCCH groups. Theinformation elements in one or more RRC messages may provide mappingbetween configured cells and PUCCH SCells. Cells may be grouped into aplurality of cell groups and a cell may be assigned to one of theconfigured PUCCH groups. There may be a one-to-one relationship betweenPUCCH groups and cells with configured PUCCH resources. At least one RRCmessage may provide mapping between an SCell and a PUCCH group, andPUCCH configuration on PUCCH SCell.

System information (common parameters) for an SCell may be carried in aRadioResourceConfigCommonSCell in a dedicated RRC message. Some of thePUCCH related information may be included in common information of anSCell (e.g. in the RadioResourceConfigCommonSCell). Dedicatedconfiguration parameters of SCell and PUCCH resources may be configuredby dedicated RRC signaling using, for example,RadioResourceConfigDedicatedSCell.

The IE PUCCH-ConfigCommon and IE PUCCH-ConfigDedicated may be used tospecify the common and the UE specific PUCCH configuration respectively.

In an example, PUCCH-ConfigCommon may include: deltaPUCCH-Shift:ENUMERATED {ds1, ds2, ds3}; nRB-CQI: INTEGER (0..98); nCS-AN: INTEGER(0..7); and/or n1PUCCH-AN: INTEGER (0..2047). The parameterdeltaPUCCH-Shift (Δ_(shift) ^(PUCCH)), nRB-CQI (N_(RB) ⁽²⁾), nCS-An(N_(cs) ⁽¹⁾), and n1PUCCH-AN (N_(PUCCH) ⁽¹⁾) may be physical layerparameters of PUCCH.

PUCCH-ConfigDedicated may be employed. PUCCH-ConfigDedicated mayinclude: ackNackRepetition CHOICE{release: NULL, setup: SEQUENCE{repetitionFactor: ENUMERATED {n2, n4, n6, spare1δ, n1PUCCH-AN-Rep:INTEGER (0..2047)}}, tdd-AckNackFeedbackMode: ENUMERATED {bundling,multiplexing} OPTIONAL}. ackNackRepetitionj parameter indicates whetherACK/NACK repetition is configured. n2 corresponds to repetition factor2, n4 to 4 for repetitionFactor parameter (N_(ANRep)). n1PUCCH-AN-Repparameter may be n_(PUCCH, ANRep) ^((1,p)) for antenna port P0 and forantenna port P1. dd-AckNackFeedbackMode parameter may indicate one ofthe TDD ACK/NACK feedback modes used. The value bundling may correspondto use of ACK/NACK bundling whereas, the value multiplexing maycorrespond to ACK/NACK multiplexing. The same value may apply to bothACK/NACK feedback modes on PUCCH as well as on PUSCH.

The parameter PUCCH-ConfigDedicated may include simultaneous PUCCH-PUSCHparameter indicating whether simultaneous PUCCH and PUSCH transmissionsis configured. An E-UTRAN may configure this field for the PCell whenthe nonContiguousUL-RA-WithinCC-Info is set to supported in the band onwhich PCell is configured. The E-UTRAN may configure this field for thePSCell when the nonContiguousUL-RA-WithinCC-Info is set to supported inthe band on which PSCell is configured. The E-UTRAN may configure thisfield for the PUCCH SCell when the nonContiguousUL-RA-WithinCC-Info isset to supported in the band on which PUCCH SCell is configured.

A UE may transmit radio capabilities to an eNB to indicate whether UEsupport the configuration of PUCCH groups. The simultaneous PUCCH-PUSCHin the UE capability message may be applied to both a PCell and anSCell. Simultaneous PUCCH+PUSCH may be configured separately (usingseparate IEs) for a PCell and a PUCCH SCell. For example, a PCell and aPUCCH SCell may have different or the same configurations related tosimultaneous PUCCH+PUSCH.

The eNB may select the PUCCH SCell among current SCells or candidateSCells considering cell loading, carrier quality (e.g. using measurementreports), carrier configuration, and/or other parameters. From afunctionality perspective, a PUCCH Cell group management procedure mayinclude a PUCCH Cell group addition, a PUCCH cell group release, a PUCCHcell group change and/or a PUCCH cell group reconfiguration. The PUCCHcell group addition procedure may be used to add a secondary PUCCH cellgroup (e.g., to add PUCCH SCell and one or more SCells in the secondaryPUCCH cell group). In an example embodiment, cells may be released andadded employing one or more RRC messages. In another example embodiment,cells may be released employing a first RRC message and then addedemploying a second RRC messages.

SCells including PUCCH SCell may be in a deactivated state when they areconfigured. A PUCCH SCell may be activated after an RRC configurationprocedure by an activation MAC CE. An eNB may transmit a MAC CEactivation command to a UE. The UE may activate an SCell in response toreceiving the MAC CE activation command.

In example embodiments, a timer is running once it is started, until itis stopped or until it expires; otherwise it may not be running. A timercan be started if it is not running or restarted if it is running. Forexample, a timer may be started or restarted from its initial value.

SCell activation/deactivation process was introduced in LTE-Advancedrelease-10 and beyond. If the MAC entity is configured with one or moreSCells, the network may activate and deactivate the configured SCells.The SpCell may always be activated. The network may activate anddeactivate the SCell(s) by sending one or more ofActivation/Deactivation MAC control elements. The MAC entity maymaintain a sCellDeactivationTimer timer per configured SCell and maydeactivate the associated SCell upon its expiry. The same initial timervalue may apply to each instance of the sCellDeactivationTimer and it isconfigured by RRC. An sCellDeactivationTimer IE is included inMac-MainConfig dedicated parameter in an RRC message. The configuredSCells may be initially be deactivated upon addition and after ahandover.

Various implementation of the Activation/Deactivation MAC controlelement may be possible. In an example embodiment, theActivation/Deactivation MAC control element is identified by a MAC PDUsubheader with a pre-assigned LCID. It may have a fixed size andcomprise one or more octets containing C-fields and one or moreR-fields. The activation/deactivation MAC control element may be definedas follows. Ci: if there is an SCell configured with SCelllndex i asspecified in, this field indicates the activation/deactivation status ofthe SCell with SCelllndex i, else the MAC entity may ignore the Cifield. The Ci field is set to “1” to indicate that the SCell withSCellIndex i may be activated. The Ci field is set to “0” to indicatethat the SCell with SCelllndex i may be deactivated; R: Reserved bit,set to “0”. Other embodiments may be implemented. For example, when UEis configured with more than 5 to 7 carriers, the format may includemore than one byte including a longer bitmap.

Various deactivation timer management processes may be implemented. Inan example embodiment, if PDCCH on the activated SCell indicates anuplink grant or downlink assignment; or if PDCCH on the Serving Cellscheduling the activated SCell indicates an uplink grant or a downlinkassignment for the activated SCell: the UE may restart thesCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell. Other examplesCellDeactivationTimer embodiments may also be implemented. Adeactivation timer of a PUCCH SCell may be disabled.

In the current LTE-Advanced transceiver operation, the MAC entity mayfor each TTI and for each configured SCell perform certain functionsrelated to activation/deactivation of SCell(s). If the MAC entityreceives an activation/deactivation MAC control element in this TTIactivating the SCell, the MAC entity may in the TTI according to anactivation timing, activate the SCell; start or restart thesCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell; and trigger PHR (powerheadroom). If the MAC entity receives an activation/deactivation MACcontrol element in this TTI deactivating the SCell; or if thesCellDeactivationTimer associated with the activated SCell expires inthis TTI: in the TTI according to a deactivation timing; stop thesCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell; and/or flush all HARQbuffers associated with the SCell.

If the SCell is deactivated a UE may perform the following actions: nottransmit SRS on the SCell; not report CQI/PMI/RI/PTI for the SCell; nottransmit on UL-SCH on the SCell; not transmit on RACH on the SCell; notmonitor the PDCCH on the SCell; not monitor the PDCCH for the SCell.When SCell is deactivated, the ongoing Random Access procedure on theSCell, if any, is aborted.

3GPP Technical Specification number TS 36.212: “Evolved UniversalTerrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical Layer Procedures” addressesthe timing for secondary cell activation/deactivation. Section 4.3 of3GPP TS 36.213 V11.2.0 (2013 February) (Release 11) describes that whena UE receives a MAC activation command for a secondary cell in subframen, the corresponding actions in the MAC layer shall be applied insubframe n+8. When a UE receives a MAC deactivation command for asecondary cell or a secondary cell's deactivation timer expires insubframe n, the corresponding actions in the MAC layer shall apply nolater than subframe n+8, except for the actions related to CSI reportingwhich shall be applied in subframe n+8.

Due to some timing issues with the requirements defined in 3GPP TS36.213 V11.2.0 (2013 February) (Release 11), section 4.3 was updated inthe subsequent release. Section 4.3 of 3GPP TS 36.213 (in all releasesfrom V11.3.0/2013 February to V12.4 /2014 February: the most recentrelease) relaxes some of the timing requirements for the UE. The updatedsection 4.3 describes that when a UE receives a MAC activation commandfor a secondary cell in subframe n, the corresponding actions in the MAClayer shall be applied no later than the minimum requirement defined in3GPP TS 36.133 and no earlier than subframe n+8, except for thefollowing: the actions related to CSI reporting and the actions relatedto the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with the secondary cell, whichshall be applied in subframe n+8. When a UE receives a MAC deactivationcommand for a secondary cell or the sCellDeactivationTimer associatedwith the secondary cell expires in subframe n, the corresponding actionsin the MAC layer shall apply no later than the minimum requirementdefined in 3GPP TS 36.133, except for the actions related to CSIreporting which shall be applied in subframe n+8. 3GPP TS 36.133describes the SCell activation delay requirement for a deactivatedSCell. Deactivation delay may take longer than 8 msec depending on a UEconditions with respect to the SCell.

The current LTE-Advanced specifications requires that when a UE receivesa MAC activation command for a secondary cell in subframe n, the actionsrelated to CSI reporting and the actions related to thesCellDeactivationTimer associated with the secondary cell, are appliedin subframe n+8. The current LTE-Advanced specifications requires thatwhen a UE receives a MAC deactivation command for a secondary cell orother deactivation conditions are met (e.g. the sCellDeactivationTimerassociated with the secondary cell expires) in subframe n, the actionsrelated to CSI reporting are applied in subframe n+8.

In the current LTE-Advanced transceiver operations when a UE receives aMAC activation command for an SCell in subframe n, the UE startsreporting CQI/PMI/RI/PTI for the SCell at subframe n+8 and starts orrestarts the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with the SCell atsubframe n+8. It is important to define the timing of these actions forboth UE and eNB. For example, sCellDeactivationTimer is maintained inboth eNB and UE and it is important that both UE and eNB stop, startand/or restart this timer in the same TTI. Otherwise, thesCellDeactivationTimer in the UE may not be in-sync with thecorresponding sCellDeactivationTimer in the eNB. Also eNB startsmonitoring and receiving CSI (CQI/PMI/RI/PTI) according to thepredefined timing in the same TTI and/or after UE starts transmittingthe CSI. If the CSI timings in UE and eNB are not coordinated based on acommon standard or air interface signaling the network operation mayresult in inefficient operations and/or errors. CSI may include, e.g.,channel quality indicator (CQI), preceding matrix indicator (PMI),and/or rank indicator (RI).

An example CQI indices and their interpretations are given in FIG. 14A(Table 1) for reporting CQI based on QPSK, 16 QAM and 64 QAM. An exampleCQI indices and their interpretations are given in FIG. 13B (Table 2)for reporting CQI based on QPSK, 16 QAM, 64 QAM and 256 QAM. Thesetables are for example only and other tables may be developed forproviding CQI feedback. In an example embodiment, based on anunrestricted observation interval in time and frequency, the UE mayderive for each CQI value reported in uplink subframe n the highest CQIindex between 1 and 15 in Table 1 or Table 2 which satisfies thefollowing condition, or CQI index 0 if CQI index 1 does not satisfy thecondition: a single PDSCH transport block with a combination ofmodulation scheme and transport block size corresponding to the CQIindex, and occupying a group of downlink physical resource blocks termedthe CSI reference resource, could be received with a transport blockerror probability not exceeding 0.1.

In an example embodiment, when a UE transmits/reports CQI or in generalCSI to the base station, the UE may transmit a valid or invalid CSI. Forexample, a UE may transmit a CQI index of 0, which indicates an out ofrange value. In the example embodiments, when it is indicated that theUE transmits CSI it refers to transmission of a valid or invalid CSI,and/or in range or out of range CSI. When explicit transmission of validor invalid CSI is intended, it is explicitly indicated that valid orinvalid CSI is transmitted. In an example embodiment, a UE may initiallytransmit invalid CSI until UE successfully detects and is able tomeasure CSI for a given cell. When an eNB receives an invalid CSI, theeNB may take a proper action according to its implementation. In anexample, when a UE is unable to measure a downlink signal, it may reportan invalid CQI. In an example, when a UE obtain a measurement of adownlink signal below a threshold, it may report an invalid CQI.

FIG. 15A and 15B are example diagrams illustrating timing of differentevents according to the current LTE-Advanced transceivers. The MACentity receives the Activation MAC CE activating the SCell (e.g.Activation/Deactivation MAC CE activating the SCell) in subframe (TTI)n. The MAC entity starts or restarts the sCellDeactivationTimerassociated with the SCell in subframe n+8. The MAC entity startsreporting CSI (CQI/PMI/RI/PTI) reporting for the SCell in subframe n+8.Other activation actions listed below (if configured) are applied nolater than the minimum defined delay requirement and no earlier thansubframe n+8. Other actions include one or many of the following: SRStransmissions on the SCell; PDCCH monitoring on the SCell; PDCCHmonitoring for the SCell; trigger PHR. For example, the other actionsmay be applied in subframe n+8 or later at subframe n+12, n+13, or n+k,wherein k is a number between 0 and an upper limit which ispre-defined/pre-configured for certain scenarios. Other actionsnecessarily do not need to happen in the same subframe. An example upperlimit for k is described below.

In an example scenario, when a secondary cell activation MAC CE inreceived in subframe n, the UE may be able to transmit uplink signalsfor the secondary cell on or before subframe n+24 provided the followingconditions are met for the SCell:

-   -   During the period equal to max(5 measCycleSCell, 5 DRX cycles)        before the reception of the SCell activation command:    -   the UE has sent a valid measurement report for the SCell being        activated and    -   the SCell being activated remains detectable according to a cell        identification conditions,    -   SCell being activated also remains detectable during the SCell        activation delay according to the cell identification        conditions.

Otherwise upon receiving the SCell activation command in subframe n, theUE may be capable to transmit valid CSI report and apply other actionsrelated to the activation command for the SCell being activated no laterthan in subframe n+34 provided the SCell can be successfully detected onthe first attempt.

In an example embodiment, while activating an SCell if any other SCellis activated, deactivated, configured and/or deconfigured by the UE thenthe UE activation delay may increase. For example, the increase inactivation delay may depend on the number of times the other one or moreSCells are activated, deactivated, configured or deconfigured while theSCell is being activated.

If there is no reference signal received for the CSI measurement overthe delay corresponding to the minimum requirements specified above,then the UE may report corresponding valid CSI for the activated SCellon the next available uplink reporting resource after receiving thereference signal.

If there are no uplink resources for reporting the valid CSI in subframen+24 or n+34 then the UE may use the next available uplink resource forreporting the corresponding valid CSI.

The valid CSI is based on the UE measurement and corresponds to any CQIvalue with the exception of CQI index=0 (out of range) provided: certainconditions are met over the entire SCell activation delay and theconditions defined for CQI reporting are met. In addition to CSIreporting defined above, UE may also apply other actions related to theactivation command specified in for an SCell at the first opportunitiesfor the corresponding actions once the SCell is activated.

In practice a UE may have shorter or longer deactivation delay than theminimum requirement specified above depending on the transceiver state,air interface quality, etc. Activation delay may depend on when adetection attempt, by a UE (wireless device), for the secondary cell issuccessful. The UE may have a shorter UE SCell activation delay than theUE SCell activation delay described above depending on air interface andUE conditions. The UE and/or the network may benefit from reduced SCellactivation delay by the UE.

To activate an SCell, the UE may need to acquire PSS/SSS (sync signals)signals, if synchronization signals are not acquired. In an exampleembodiment, there may the following different scenarios for the SCellactivation: a) cold-start 1: SCell RF is not activated; timinginformation is unknown; not possible for intraband contiguous CA, b)cold-start 2 SCell RF is not activated; timing information is known, c)warm-start: RF is already active; and timing information is known. Forexample, the maximum allowed activation time for cold-start 2, where anSCell RF chain is not activated, but SCell timing information is known,may be 24 ms. 4 ms may be needed for UE to decode an activation command(MAC control element) and transmit ACK, and 20 ms may be needed for RFwarm-up, AGC settling, and frequency and time tracking loops warm-up. RFwarm-up and AGC settling may be achieved within a few milliseconds (<4ms) or a even shorter time period by applying additional technique.

Currently, the MAC entity receives the activation MAC CE activating theSCell (e.g. activation/deactivation MAC CE activating the SCell). TheMAC entity start or restart the sCellDeactivationTimer associated withthe SCell in subframe n+8. The MAC entity starts reporting CSI(CQI/PMI/RI/PTI) reporting for the SCell in subframe n+8 no matterwhether the secondary cell is properly acquired or not.

As illustrated in the example FIG. 15A, the UE may start reportinginvalid/out-of-range CSI for the SCell until valid CSI is available. Asshown in example FIG. 15B, UE starts reporting valid CSI in subframen+8+k, wherein k depends on when a valid CSI is available.

Starting time for CQI report transmission does not depend on differentUE implementation. This enhances PUCCH decoding process on PCell.Minimum requirement of when valid CQI result is send is specified. Asdiscussed the UE may exceed the minimum requirement in some scenarios.Such probability may be reduced as much as possible. In an exampleembodiment, if CQI report is configured, out of range CQI/CSI may bereported before the UE is able to perform CSI measurement for the SCell.The UE may be able to transmit valid CSI no later than subframe n+24[+X]for Transmission Modes (TM) other than TM9 and 4 ms after the firstCSI-RS subframe since n+24[+X] for TM9. X is may be a predefinedparameter, for example, may be equal to 10.

There could be a certain period that the UE does not have valid CQIresults for an SCell upon the activation of the SCell. The period maydepend on when the UE successfully detects the cell and/or when the UEstarts CQI measurement which may vary depending on the air interfacecondition, signal (e.g. CSI RS) timings and/or UE implementation.Starting time for CQI report transmission does not depend on differentUE implementations. The UE may start reporting CQI from subframe n+8 anda fixed value (e.g. our of range) may be reported when there are novalid CQI results available for the SCell. This would reduce thepossibility that CQI size uncertainty complicates the eNB decoding ofuplink channel. A timing requirement may be set when the UE has validCQI results for the SCell at the latest after activation. A UEimplementation may reduce the probability of exceeding this timingrequirement.

FIG. 15B shows another example when UE has a shorter activation delayand valid CSI are available. The UE may start reporting a valid CSIstarting subframe n+8.

When a UE starts reporting CSI in subframe n+8, it does not necessarilyimply that UE transmits CSI in subframe n+8. The UE may transmit CSI inthe first available CSI resources allocated to UE starting subframe n+8.For example, the UE may transmit the first CSI in subframe n+8, n+10,etc depending on when the first available CSI resource is available.

Some example embodiments of the invention improves the signal timings ofFIGS. 15A and 15B to enhance CSI and other uplink control signalingtransmission mechanisms when at least one PUCCH SCell is configured.

FIG. 16 is an example signalling flow and signal timing as per an aspectof an embodiment of the present invention. An eNB 1602 may transmit to aUE 1601 one or more RRC messages comprising configuration parameters ofcells and a PUCCH SCell and PUCCH groups. An RRC message 1600 is shownin FIG. 16. The UE may configure at least one PUCCH SCell. The UE maytransmit an RRC confirmation message 1605 back to the eNB confirming areceived RRC message.

The eNB may transmit a MAC activation command 1610 to activate the PUCCHSCell. The UE may receive the activation command at subframe n, and mayperform downlink actions related to the SCell activation command for thePUCCH SCell being activated no later than the SCell activation delay asdescribed in the specification (T_activate 1635). The activation delaymay depend on the UE conditions before and at the time it receives theactivation command and during the activation period.

If the UE does not have a valid TA for transmitting on a PUCCH SCell(when PUCCH SCell belongs to an unsynchronized sTAG), the eNB maytransmit a PDCCH order 1615 to initiate a random access process on thesTAG. The a PDCCH order may initiate a random access process on an SCellin the sTAG, e.g. the PUCCH SCell if PUCCH SCell includes PRACHresources. In an example, the UE may receive a PDCCH order to initiateRA procedure on the PUCCH SCell during the activation period. If PDCCHorder is received with some additional delays, it may result in furtherdelay in the CSI report transmission. In an example, the eNB mayinitiate a random access process on a cell (e.g. different from PUCCHSCEll) in the sTAG. If PRACH is not on PUCCH Scell, the Scell with PRACHmay be activated before transmission of PDCCH Order and PUCCH Scell maybe activated before, during or after the RACH process. The UE maytransmit a preamble 1620 on the SCell with PRACH according to the PDCCHorder. A preamble 1620 (Msg1) may be sent by a UE in response to a PDCCHorder 1615 on an SCell belonging to the sTAG. In an example embodiment,preamble transmission for SCells may be controlled by the network usingPDCCH format 1A. The delay between receiving PDCCH order and preambletransmission may be T1 1640. The delay T1 may depend on when the UEacquires the first available PRACH occasion in the PUCCH SCell (oranother cell in the sTAG with PRACH). In an example, T1 may be up to 25subframes and the actual value of T1 may depend on the PRACHconfiguration.

The eNB may transmit a random access response (RAR) 1625 in response tothe preamble transmission on the SCell. The RAR 1625 may be addressed toRA-RNTI in a PCell common search space (CSS). The RAR may include anuplink grant for the SCell with PRACH (e.g. PUCCH SCell) and a timingadvance command for the sTAG. The delay T2 1645 is the delay betweentransmitting the Preamble 1620 and receiving a RAR with a valid TAcommand for the sTAG to which the PUCCH SCell belongs. In an example, T2may be up to 13 subframes.

In an example, when the RAR 1625 is received in subframe k, one or moreTB(s) may be transmitted in subframe k+4 in response to the uplinkgrant. Uplink TB(s) may be transmitted on the SCell in which thepreamble 1620 was transmitted (e.g. PUCCH SCell). The UE may apply thereceived TAC to the sTAG after the delay T3 1650. The delay T3 may bethe delay for applying the received TA for uplink transmission timing.For example, T3 is 6 subframes. A first TB may be transmitted beforeuplink transmission timing is adjusted. The UE may start transmission ofvalid CSI reports 1630 for the activated SCell(s) (including PUCCHSCell) in the PUCCH group after T_delay=T_activate+T1+T2+T3 as shown inFIG. 16.

In an example embodiment, the valid CSI transmission delay may increasewhen eNB further delays transmission of the PDCCH order. The valid CSItransmission delay may increase when eNB further delays transmission ofthe RAR. The valid CSI transmission delay may increase when RA on PUCCHSCell is interrupted by the RA on PCell.

In an example embodiment, the eNB may activate and uplink synchronizePUCCH SCell. After PUCCH SCell is activated and uplink synchronized thenPUCCH information for the cells in PUCCH group may be transmitted in theuplink. In an example, for a PUCCH group, in which PUCCH SCell is in aTAG that its time-alignment is not running, no downlink shared channeltransport block may be received on DL-SCH until PUCCH is activated anduplink synchronized using RACH. DL-SCH TBs may be received after the UEreports valid CQI.

An example embodiment enhances activation mechanisms. When an SCell isactivated, CSI reports may be transmitted in the uplink after PUCCHSCell is activated and uplink synchronized. DL-SCH packets (TBs) may bereceived on PUCCH group after a first CSI is transmitted for theSCell(s) on an activated and uplink synchronized PUCCH SCell.

FIG. 17 is an example signaling timing as per an aspect of a disclosedembodiment. When a PUCCH SCell is activated in a TAG, the TAG may not beuplink synchronized. For example PUCCH SCell may be activated in an sTAGthat is not uplink synchronized. FIG. 17 shows example diagramsillustrating timing of some events according to an example embodiment ofthe invention. In the example embodiment of the invention, when a UEreceives a MAC activation command for a PUCCH SCell in subframe n, theUE starts or restarts the sCellDeactivationTimer associated with thePUCCH SCell at subframe n+m (e.g. m=8). In another example, the PUCCHSCell may already be activated. The PUCCH SCell may be configured in anout-of-sync TAG, or the TAG including the PUCCH SCell may becomeout-of-sync because the corresponding time alignment timer expires. Whenthe TAG including the PUCCH SCell is out-of-sync, the UE may stop uplinktransmission in the PUCCH SCell including transmission of PUCCH signals.The eNB may initiate a random access process to initially uplinksynchronize a TAG, or to synchronize a TAG that has becomeunsynchronized.

In an example embodiment, an eNB may initiate a random access process ona secondary cell of the TAG including the PUCCH SCell. The secondarycell may be the PUCCH SCell itself, if it includes RACH resources. TheeNB may transmit a PDCCH order for transmission of a random accesspreamble. The UE may transmit a random access preamble in the uplink inthe resources identified by the PDCCH order. The random access responseincludes an uplink grant and a timing advance command (TAC) 1710. The UEmay receive the TAC in a random access response in subframe n+k. Theparameter k may depend, for example, on when the eNB transmits the PDCCHorder, PRACH configuration, the number of successive preambletransmission until successful reception of the RAR, and/or otherparameters. The UE may start the time alignment timer when a TAC isreceived. Example embodiments of the invention describe enhancedmechanisms for transmission of CSI on the PUCCH SCell after a TAC isreceived for an out-of-sync TAG including the PUCCH SCell.

The timing advance command 1710 is received in subframe n+k. In anexample embodiment of the invention, a UE may start transmission ofuplink CSI (CSI1, CSI2, CSI3, . . . in FIG. 17) starting subframe n+k+p(in the first available PUCCH resource on or after subframe n+k+p),wherein p is a natural number greater than zero. If the PUCCH SCell hascompleted the activation process, the CSI report may include valid CSIreports. When measurement value of a radio link quality is above athreshold, the CSI (e.g. CQI) may be valid CSI reports, and whenmeasurement of a link quality is below a threshold the CSI report may beinvalid CSI reports.

The TAC in the RAR is received in subframe n+k. The UE may start thetime alignment timer of a TAG after it receives a TAC for the TAG. TheUE may start reporting CSI when time alignment timer of the TAGincluding the PUCCH SCell is running. The UE may start reporting CSI insubframe n+k+p, wherein p is greater than zero. The UE may startreporting CSI in the first available CSI resource (in PUCCH resource) onor after n+k+p. In the example FIG. 17, the UE transmits CSI in subframen+k+p+1 (CSI1), n+k+p+3 (CSI2), n+k+p+5 (CSI3), etc. FIG. 17 shows anexample configuration. PUCCH resources for a given UE are configuredusing RRC control messages. When the PUCCH SCell starts transmitting CSIfrom subframe n+k+p, it implies that the UE transmits CSI in the firstavailable CSI resources on the PUCCH SCell on or after subframe n+k+p.

The corresponding adjustment of the uplink transmission timing for thereceived TAC may be applied from the beginning of subframe n+k+p (e.g.p=6 subframes). In an example embodiment, for serving cells in the sameTAG, when the UE's uplink transmissions in subframe n+k+p and subframen+k+p+1 are overlapped due to the timing adjustment, the UE may completetransmission of subframe n+k+p and not transmit the overlapped part ofsubframe n+k+p+1.

The UE may adjust its uplink transmission timing from the beginning ofthe subframe n+k+p. CSIs that are received may be time aligned with thebase station subframes and may not interfere with signals in othersubframes. In FIG. 17, for example CSI1, CSI2, CSI3 may be received withthe required subframe timing adjustments. In some scenarios, therequired time adjustment may be very small (for example when the cellsize is small and/or the UE is close to the eNB and propagation delay issmall). In some scenarios, the required adjustment is relatively large(for example when the cell size is large and UE is close to the celledge). Transmission of CSIs after the uplink timing is adjustedincreases the probability that CSIs are received within subframe periodindependent of what is the scenario and the condition of the UE. Sincethe delay in transmission of CSI is relatively small, it may bebeneficial to delay reporting CSI until subframe n+k+p when the timingis adjusted. The UE may transmit valid or invalid CSI depending on theavailability and/or the range of the measured CSI.

FIG. 17 illustrates an example configuration wherein CSI reports aretransmitted on or after the timing is adjusted. In an example scenario,the time alignment timer of the PUCCH SCell may be started before n+k+p.The CSI (e.g. CSI1, CSI2, CSI3, . . . in FIG. 17) is reported in thefirst available PUCCH resources on or after n+k+p. In case there is noavailable PUCCH resources on n+k+p, then no CSI may be transmitted onn+k+p. Then even though CSI reporting starts in subframe n+k+p, no CSIis transmitted on subframe n+k+p. In an example embodiment, the timealignment timer may be restarted before subframe n+k+p (e.g. n+k orn+k+1), and the UE may start transmitting other uplink signals beforethe subframe n+k+p.

The UE may start other uplink transmissions such as UL-SCH transmissionsbefore n+k+p. For example, a UE may transmit an uplink transport block1715 in subframe n+k+4 when it receives an uplink grant in the randomaccess response in subframe n+k. For example, if the PUCCH SCell isconfigured with SRS, the UE may start transmitting SRS after it receivesthe TAC and before subframe n+k+p. This may be because CSI informationmay more critical than SRS and/or UL-SCH signals. Decoding CSI signalsmay be more complex than decoding SRS and/or UL-SCH signals. Earlierstarting point for SRS transmissions may enable eNB to start estimationof channel conditions and other channel parameters a bit earlier. Forexample, the UE may start CSI transmissions on or after subframe n+k+6,when p=6. PUCCH has completed the activation process and the CSI reportmay include valid CSI reports. When measurement value of a radio linkquality is above a threshold, the CSI (e.g. CQI) may be valid CSIreports, and when measurement of a link quality is below a thresholdand/or a measurement is not available the CSI report may be invalid CSIreports.

In an example embodiment, the MAC entity may have a configurable timertimeAlignmentTimer per TAG. The timeAlignmentTimer may be used tocontrol how long the MAC entity considers the Serving Cells belonging tothe associated TAG to be uplink time aligned. The MAC entity may: when aTiming Advance Command MAC control element is received: apply the TimingAdvance Command for the indicated TAG; start or restart thetimeAlignmentTimer associated with the indicated TAG. The MAC entitymay: when a Timing Advance Command is received in a Random AccessResponse message for a serving cell belonging to a TAG: ->If the RandomAccess Preamble was not selected by the MAC entity: apply the TimingAdvance Command for this TAG; and start or restart thetimeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG. Else if thetimeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG is not running: apply theTiming Advance Command for this TAG; and start the timeAlignmentTimerassociated with this TAG; when the contention resolution is considerednot successful, stop timeAlignmentTimer associated with this TAG. Else,The MAC entity ignore the received Timing Advance Command.

When a timeAlignmentTimer expires, if the timeAlignmentTimer isassociated with the pTAG: The MAC entity may perform one, many or allthe following: flush all HARQ buffers for all serving cells; notify RRCto release PUCCH/SRS for all serving cells; clear any configureddownlink assignments and uplink grants. In an example implementation,the MAC entity may further consider running timeAlignmentTimers of sTAGsas expired.

If the timeAlignmentTimer is associated with an sTAG expires, then forall Serving Cells belonging to this TAG: The MAC entity may perform one,many or all the following functions: flush all HARQ buffers; notify RRCto release SRS.

In addition, if the serving cell is a PUCCH SCell and thetimeAlignmentTimer of the TAG including the serving cell (the PUCCHSCell) expires, then the UE may perform one or more of the followingactions. The MAC entity in the UE may notify RRC in the UE to releasePUCCH of the PUCCH SCell. The UE may may clear any configured downlinkassignments received for seving cells in the corresponding PUCCH group(If cross carrier scheduling between cells of different PUCCH groups arenot allowed, this would equally imply the UE may may clear anyconfigured downlink assignments received on seving cells in thecorresponding PUCCH group.). The UE may clear any HARQ processes fordownlink packets in the corresponding PUCCH group. When the timealignment of a TAG is expired, the UE may stop uplink transmissions inthe cell group, except random access preamble transmissions. The UE mayalso clear uplink grants received for serving cells of a TAG withexpired timeAlignmentTimer. The UE may stop transmission of PUCCH on thePUCCH SCell for SCells in the corresponding PUCCH group. In an exampleembodiment, the UE may continue monitoring PDCCH and transmit uplinkpackets and SRSs in serving cell(s) of the PUCCH group if the servingcells are in an in-sync TAG. In an example embodiment, the UE maycontinue monitoring receive broadcast information/transport blocks (e.g.Multicast CH, and/or MBSFN subframes) in downlink carrier(s) of theserving cell(s) of the PUCCH group.

In an example embodiment, if the timeAlignmentTimer, associated with theTAG containing the PUCCH SCell is stopped or expired, the MAC entity maynot indicate a generated positive or negative acknowledgement to thephysical layer for the cells in the PUCCH group. The UE may not transmitpositive or negative acknowledgement to the eNB on the PUCCH SCell, whenthe timeAlignmentTimer, associated with the TAG containing the PUCCHSCell is stopped or expired. In an example embodiment, if thetimeAlignmentTimer, associated with the TAG containing the PUCCH SCellis running and the PUCCH is activated, the MAC entity may indicate agenerated positive or negative acknowledgement for one or more TB to thephysical layer for the cells in the PUCCH group. The UE may transmitpositive or negative acknowledgement to the eNB on the PUCCH SCell, whenthe timeAlignmentTimer, associated with the TAG containing the PUCCHSCell is running.

When the PUCCH SCell in a PUCCH group is in the out-of-sync state(belong to an out-of-sync TAG), the PUCCH SCell may not transmit PUCCHcontrol information in the uplink PUCCH for the SCells in thecorresponding PUCCH group. Other activated SCell(s) in a PUCCH groupcorresponding to an out-of-sync PUCCH SCell may not transmit uplinkCQI/PMI/RI/PTI/HARQ-feedback reporting on PUCCH of the out-of-sync PUCCHSCell. In an example embodiment, in such a scenario, the UE may be ableto receive uplink grants for an SCell in the PUCCH group and transmituplink packets to the eNB, if the cell belong to an in-sync TAG. The UEmay stop receiving DL-SCH transport blocks in the PUCCH group. In anexample embodiment, UE may continue monitoring receive broadcastinformation/packets (e.g. MCH, and/or MBSFN subframes, etc) in downlinkcarrier(s) of the serving cell(s) of the PUCCH group. The UE may be ableto receive downlink HARQ and downlink physical control channels (e.g.PBCCH, PCFICH, PDCCH, and/or ePDCCH) and/or broadcast channel on theSCell belong to in-sync TAG. The UE may not be able to provide downlinkfeedback information (e.g. CQI/PMI/RI/PTI/HARQ-feedback) on anout-of-sync PUCCH SCell.

In an example embodiment, when a PUCCH SCell is out-of-sync, the UE mayclear any configured downlink assignments received for the SCells in thecorresponding PUCCH group. The UE may clear any HARQ processes fordownlink packets in the corresponding PUCCH group.

The following actions may be taken in an example implementation for whenthe serving cell is a PUCCH SCell and the timeAlignmentTimer of the TAGincluding the serving cell (the PUCCH SCell) expires. The UE may stoptransmission of channel state information for a first secondary cell inthe secondary PUCCH cell group, the first secondary cell being differentfrom the PUCCH secondary cell. The UE may stop receiving downlink sharedchannel transport blocks on the first secondary cell in the secondaryPUCCH cell group. The MAC entity may not indicate a generated positiveor negative acknowledgement to the physical layer for a first secondarycell in the secondary PUCCH cell group, the first secondary cell beingdifferent from the PUCCH secondary cell. The UE may not transmitpositive or negative acknowledgement to the eNB for a TB received on afirst secondary cell in the secondary PUCCH cell group, the firstsecondary cell being different from the PUCCH secondary cell.

The UE may clear configured downlink shared channel assignments receivedfor any SCell in the corresponding PUCCH group. In an exampleembodiment, the UE may not be able to process received downlink sharedchannel transport blocks since the corresponding PUCCH may not beavailable for HARQ feedback (PUCCH SCell is out-of-sync). For example,the UE may clear HARQ processes for downlink SCH transport blocks in thecorresponding PUCCH group. In an example, the UE may flush HARQprocesses for downlink shared channel transport blocks on the firstsecondary cell in the secondary PUCCH group.

In an example embodiment, the UE may stop processing assignments fordownlink shared channel transport blocks received for/on the firstsecondary cell in the secondary PUCCH group. In an example, the UE maystop monitoring the PDCCH downlink assignments on the first secondarycell and may stop monitoring the PDCCH downlink assignments for thefirst secondary cell. The first secondary cell is an activated cell inthe secondary PUCCH group, wherein the PUCCH secondary cell isout-of-sync. In an example, the UE may stop monitoring the PDCCHdownlink assignments for downlink shared channel transport blocks on thefirst secondary cell and may stop monitoring the PDCCH downlinkassignments for downlink shared channel transport blocks for the firstsecondary cell. The first secondary cell is an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group, wherein the PUCCH secondary cell is out-of-sync.

The UE may stop transmission of PUCCH signals on the PUCCH SCell forSCells in the corresponding PUCCH group. In an example embodiment, theUE may continue receiving uplink grants comprising uplink radioresources grant for transmission of an uplink transport block on thefirst secondary cell in the secondary PUCCH group (if the the firstsecondary cell is in-sync). The UE may transmit the uplink transportblocks on the first secondary cell (if the the first secondary cell isin-sync). The UE may continue transmission of sounding reference signalson the first secondary cell in the secondary PUCCH cell group (if thethe first secondary cell is in-sync). The UE may transmit uplinktransport blocks and SRS in other serving cells of the PUCCH group whenPUCCH SCell is out-of-sync (if other serving cells are in-sync).

The UE may receive MBSFN subframes and broadcast/multicast transportblocks in the downlink. MBSFN subframes configuration parametersindicating MBSFN subframes may be configured by system informationbroadcasted by eNB and/or RRC message(s). The UE may continue processingof the received broadcast/multicast control and data packets (e.g.transport blocks) and other broadcast information.

In an example embodiment, the MAC entity may not perform any uplinktransmission on a Serving Cell except the Random Access Preambletransmission when the timeAlignmentTimer associated with the TAG towhich this serving cell belongs is not running. The MAC entity may notreceive or process any downlink grants for serving cells in a PUCCHgroup when the timeAlignmentTimer associated with the TAG including thecorresponding PUCCH SCell is not running (If cross carrier schedulingbetween cells of different PUCCH groups are not allowed, this wouldequally imply the UE may clear any configured downlink assignmentsreceived on serving cells in the corresponding PUCCH group.). The UE maynot transmit or process uplink CQI/PMI/RI/PTI/HARQ-feedback for servingcells in a PUCCH group when the timeAlignmentTimer associated with theTAG including the corresponding PUCCH SCell is not running. In exampleembodiment, when the timeAlignmentTimer associated with the pTAG is notrunning, the MAC entity may not perform any uplink transmission on anyServing Cell except the Random Access Preamble transmission on theSpCell.

In an example embodiment, a wireless device may receive at least onemessage comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells. Theplurality of cells being grouped into a first plurality of timingadvance groups (TAGs). The plurality of cells being grouped into asecond plurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groupscomprising: a primary PUCCH group; and a secondary PUCCH group. Thesecondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondary cell with PUCCHresources. The PUCCH secondary cell may be in a first TAG in the firstplurality of TAGs. When the PUCCH secondary cell is activated and a timealignment timer of the first TAG is not running, perform at least one ofthe following: not receiving downlink shared channel transport blocks onone or more activated cells in the secondary PUCCH group; and nottransmitting of channel state information feedback for one or moreactivated cells in the secondary PUCCH group.

In an example embodiment, a wireless device may receive at least onemessage comprising configuration parameters of a plurality of cells. Theplurality of cells are grouped into a first plurality of timing advancegroups (TAGs). The plurality of cells being grouped into a secondplurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) group comprising: aprimary PUCCH group; and a secondary PUCCH group comprising a PUCCHsecondary cell with PUCCH resources. The PUCCH secondary cell is in afirst TAG in the first plurality of TAGs. The wireless device mayreceive a command initiating transmission of a preamble on the firstTAG. The wireless device may receive a response comprising a timingadvance command (TAC). After applying the TAC to the first TAG, performat least one of the following: transmitting, on the secondary cell,channel state information (CSI) of each activated cell in the secondaryPUCCH group; receiving downlink shared channel transport blocks on oneor more activated cells in the secondary PUCCH group. In an exampleimplementation, the wireless device may be configured not to transmitthe CSI and/or not to receive downlink shared channel transport blocksduring a period between receiving the at least one message and applyingthe TAC.

FIG. 18 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A wireless device receives at least one messagefrom a base station at 1810. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs), and aplurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups. Theplurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups may comprisea primary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCHgroup may comprise a primary cell with a primary PUCCH transmitted to abase station. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondarycell with a secondary PUCCH transmitted to the base station. The PUCCHsecondary cell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs. Accordingto an embodiment, the message(s) may comprises a first time alignmenttimer IE for the first TAG, and/or a second time alignment timer IE fora second TAG in the plurality of TAGs.

At 1820, a radio resource control layer may be notified to release thesecondary PUCCH when a time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.Additionally, transmission of positive acknowledgement or negativeacknowledgement for one or more downlink HARQ processes of an activatedcell in the secondary PUCCH group may be stopped when the time alignmenttimer of the first TAG expires.

According to an embodiment, one or more of the downlink HARQ processesof downlink shared channel transport blocks of the activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group may be stopped when the time alignment timer ofthe first TAG expires. According to an embodiment, receiving downlinkshared channel transport blocks on the activated cell in the secondaryPUCCH group may be stopped when the time alignment timer of the firstTAG expires. According to an embodiment, transmission of channel stateinformation for the activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may bestopped when the time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.

According to an embodiment, the first TAG may be considered: out-of-syncin response to the time alignment timer being expired or not running,and/or in-sync in response to the time alignment timer running.According to an embodiment, any configured downlink assignments receivedfor the activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be cleared whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to anembodiment, transmission of uplink packets and uplink sounding referencesignals on a serving cell may be continued when the time alignment timerof the first TAG expires. the serving cell may be in the secondary PUCCHgroup and the serving cell may not be in the first TAG. According to anembodiment, one or more of the downlink HARQ processes for downlinkshared channel transport blocks on the activated cell in the secondaryPUCCH group may be flushed when the time alignment timer of the firstTAG expires. The plurality of TAGs may comprise the first TAG and asecond TAG. Uplink transmission timing in the first TAG may be derivedemploying a first cell in the first TAG. Uplink transmission timing inthe second TAG may be derived employing a second cell in the second TAG.

FIG. 19 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A base station may transmit at least one messageto a wireless device at 1910. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs), and aplurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups. Theplurality of physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups may comprisea primary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCHgroup may comprise a primary cell with a primary PUCCH received by thebase station. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondarycell with a secondary PUCCH received by the base station. The PUCCHsecondary cell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs. Accordingto an embodiment, the message(s) may comprises a first time alignmenttimer IE for the first TAG, and/or a second time alignment timer IE fora second TAG in the plurality of TAGs.

At 1920, a radio resource control layer may be notified to release thesecondary PUCCH when a time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.Additionally, transmission of positive acknowledgement or negativeacknowledgement for one or more downlink HARQ processes of an activatedcell in the secondary PUCCH group may be stopped when the time alignmenttimer of the first TAG expires.

FIG. 20 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A wireless device receives at least one messagefrom a base station at 2010. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs) and a pluralityof physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups. The plurality ofphysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups may comprise a primaryPUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH group maycomprise a primary cell with a primary PUCCH transmitted to a basestation. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondary cellwith a secondary PUCCH transmitted to the base station. The PUCCHsecondary cell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs.

At 2020, transmission of positive acknowledgement or negativeacknowledgement for downlink HARQ processes of an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group may be stopped when a time alignment timer of thefirst TAG is stopped. Additionally, transmission of channel stateinformation feedback for the activated cell may be stopped when the timealignment timer of the first TAG is stopped.

According to an embodiment, reception downlink shared channel transportblocks on the activated cell in the secondary PUCCH may be stopped.According to an embodiment, HARQ processes of downlink shared channeltransport blocks of the activated cell maybe stopped when the timealignment timer of the first TAG is stopped.

According to an embodiment, transmission of uplink packets and uplinksounding reference signals on a serving cell may be continued when thetime alignment timer of the first TAG is stopped. The serving cell maybe in the secondary PUCCH group and the serving cell may not be in thefirst TAG.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of TAGs may comprise the firstTAG and a second TAG. Uplink transmission timing in the first TAG may bederived employing a first cell in the first TAG. Uplink transmissiontiming in the second TAG may be derived employing a second cell in thesecond TAG.

FIG. 21 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A base station may transmit at least one messageto a wireless device at 2110. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs) and a pluralityof physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups. The plurality ofphysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups may comprise a primaryPUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH group maycomprise a primary cell with a primary PUCCH received by the basestation. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondary cellwith a secondary PUCCH received by the base station. The PUCCH secondarycell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs. According to anembodiment, the message(s) may comprises a first time alignment timer IEfor the first TAG, and/or a second time alignment timer IE for a secondTAG in the plurality of TAGs.

According to an embodiment, reception of channel state information onthe secondary PUCCH from the wireless device may be stopped when a timealignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to an embodiment,reception of positive acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement forone or more downlink HARQ processes of an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group from the wireless device may be stopped when atime alignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to anembodiment, the one or more downlink HARQ processes of downlink sharedchannel transport blocks of the activated cell may be stopped when thetime alignment timer of the first TAG expires, the one or more downlinkHARQ processes being for transport blocks of the wireless device.According to an embodiment, the first TAG may be considered out-of-syncin response to the time alignment timer being expired or not running.Additionally, the first TAG may be considered in-sync in response to thetime alignment timer running. According to an embodiment, the pluralityof TAGs may comprise the first TAG and a second TAG. Uplink transmissiontiming in the first TAG may be derived employing a first cell in thefirst TAG. Uplink transmission timing in the second TAG may be derivedemploying a second cell in the second TAG.

FIG. 22 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A wireless device receives at least one messagefrom a base station at 2210. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs). The pluralityof cells may comprise a primary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group.The primary PUCCH group may comprise a primary cell with a primary PUCCHtransmitted to a base station. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise aPUCCH secondary cell with a secondary PUCCH transmitted to the basestation. The PUCCH secondary cell may be in a first TAG in the pluralityof TAGs.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of cells may be grouped into aplurality of PUCCH groups. The plurality of PUCCH groups may comprise aprimary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH groupmay comprise the primary cell. The secondary PUCCH group may comprisethe PUCCH secondary cell.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of TAGs may comprise the firstTAG and/or a second TAG. Uplink transmission timing in the first TAG maybe derived employing a first cell in the first TAG. Uplink transmissiontiming in the second TAG may be derived employing a second cell in thesecond TAG. According to an embodiment, at least one message maycomprise: a first time alignment timer IE for the first TAG; and asecond time alignment timer IE for a second TAG in the plurality ofTAGs.

An activation command may be received in subframe n at 2220. Receiving.The activation command may activate the PUCCH secondary cell. Accordingto an embodiment, the command may be received when a time alignmenttimer of the first TAG is not running. A command initiating transmissionof a preamble on the first TAG may be received at 2230. A responsecomprising a timing advance command (TAC) may be received at 2240. At2250, transmission of valid channel state information (CSI) may bestarted on the PUCCH secondary cell in subframe n+k, wherein k isgreater than eight and may be based on a delay from receiving theactivation command until the wireless device applies the received TAC.According to an embodiment, the CSI may be for an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group.

According to an embodiment, HARQ processes of downlink shared channeltransport blocks of an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group maybe started on or after subframe n+k. According to an embodiment,downlink shared channel transport blocks on an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group may start to be received on or after subframe n+k.

FIG. 23 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A base station may transmit at least one messageto a wireless device at 2310. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs). The pluralityof cells may comprise a primary cell and a PUCCH secondary cell. Theprimary cell may comprise a primary physical uplink control channel(PUCCH). The PUCCH secondary cell may comprise a secondary PUCCH. ThePUCCH secondary cell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs.According to an embodiment, the plurality of cells may be grouped into aplurality of PUCCH groups comprising: a primary PUCCH group and asecondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH group may comprise the primarycell. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise the PUCCH secondary cell.

An activation command activating the PUCCH secondary cell may betransmitted at 2320. The transmission of the activation command me be insubframe n. A command initiating transmission of a preamble on the firstTAG may be transmitted at 2330. According to an embodiment, the commandmay be transmitted when a time alignment timer of the first TAG is notrunning. A response comprising a timing advance command (TAC) may betransmitted at 2340. At 2350, reception of valid channel stateinformation (CSI) from the wireless device on the PUCCH secondary cellin subframe n+k may be started started. k may be greater than eight andmay be based on a delay from transmitting the activation command untilthe TAC is applied to uplink signals.

FIG. 24 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A wireless device receives at least one messagefrom a base station at 2410. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs). The pluralityof cells may be grouped into a plurality of physical uplink controlchannel (PUCCH) groups. The PUCCH groups may comprise a primary PUCCHgroup and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH group may comprisea primary cell with a primary PUCCH transmitted to a base station. Thesecondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondary cell with asecondary PUCCH transmitted to the base station. The PUCCH secondarycell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs.

At 2420, reception of downlink shared channel transport blocks on afirst secondary cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be stopped when atime alignment timer of the first TAG expires. The first secondary cellmay be different from the PUCCH secondary cell. Reception of downlinkmulticast channel transport blocks may be continued on the firstsecondary cell at 2430.

According to an embodiment, a radio resource control layer may benotified to release the secondary PUCCH when the time alignment timer ofthe first TAG expires. According to an embodiment, transmission ofpositive acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement for downlink HARQprocesses of an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may bestopped when the time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.According to an embodiment, transmission of channel state informationfor an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be stopped whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to anembodiment, the first TAG may be considered out-of-sync in response tothe time alignment timer being expired or not running. Additionally, thefirst TAG may be considered in-sync in response to the time alignmenttimer running.

According to an embodiment, any configured downlink assignments receivedfor an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be cleared whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to anembodiment, transmission of uplink packets and uplink sounding referencesignals on a serving cell may be continued when the time alignment timerof the first TAG expires. The serving cell may be in the secondary PUCCHgroup and the serving cell may not be in the first TAG. According to anembodiment, HARQ processes for downlink shared channel transport blockson an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be flushed whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of TAGs may comprise the firstTAG and a second TAG. Uplink transmission timing in the first TAG may bederived employing a first cell in the first TAG. Uplink transmissiontiming in the second TAG may be derived employing a second cell in thesecond TAG. The at least one message may comprise a first time alignmenttimer IE for the first TAG. Additionally, the at least one message maycomprise a second time alignment timer IE for a second TAG in theplurality of TAGs.

FIG. 25 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A base station may transmit at least one messageto a wireless device at 2510. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs). The pluralityof cells may be grouped into a plurality of physical uplink controlchannel (PUCCH) groups. The PUCCH groups may comprise a primary PUCCHgroup and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH group may comprisea primary cell with a primary PUCCH transmitted to a base station. Thesecondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondary cell with asecondary PUCCH transmitted to the base station. The PUCCH secondarycell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs.

At 2520, transmission of downlink shared channel transport blocks on afirst secondary cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be stopped when atime alignment timer of the first TAG expires. The first secondary cellmay be different from the PUCCH secondary cell. Transmission of downlinkmulticast channel transport blocks may be continued on the firstsecondary cell at 2530.

According to an embodiment, a radio resource control layer may benotified to release the secondary PUCCH when the time alignment timer ofthe first TAG expires. According to an embodiment, transmission ofpositive acknowledgement or negative acknowledgement for downlink HARQprocesses of an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may bestopped when the time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.According to an embodiment, transmission of channel state informationfor an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be stopped whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to anembodiment, the first TAG may be considered out-of-sync in response tothe time alignment timer being expired or not running. Additionally, thefirst TAG may be considered in-sync in response to the time alignmenttimer running.

According to an embodiment, any configured downlink assignments receivedfor an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be cleared whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires. According to anembodiment, transmission of uplink packets and uplink sounding referencesignals on a serving cell may be continued when the time alignment timerof the first TAG expires. The serving cell may be in the secondary PUCCHgroup and the serving cell may not be in the first TAG. According to anembodiment, HARQ processes for downlink shared channel transport blockson an activated cell in the secondary PUCCH group may be flushed whenthe time alignment timer of the first TAG expires.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of TAGs may comprise the firstTAG and a second TAG. Uplink transmission timing in the first TAG may bederived employing a first cell in the first TAG. Uplink transmissiontiming in the second TAG may be derived employing a second cell in thesecond TAG. The at least one message may comprise a first time alignmenttimer IE for the first TAG. Additionally, the at least one message maycomprise a second time alignment timer IE for a second TAG in theplurality of TAGs.

FIG. 26 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A wireless device receives at least one messagefrom a base station at 2610. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs). The pluralityof cells may comprise a primary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group.The primary PUCCH group may comprise a primary cell with a primaryPUCCH. The secondary PUCCH group may comprise a PUCCH secondary cellwith a secondary PUCCH. The PUCCH secondary cell may be in a first TAGin the plurality of TAGs.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of cells may be grouped into aplurality of PUCCH groups. The plurality of PUCCH groups may comprise aprimary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH groupmay comprise the primary cell. The secondary PUCCH group may comprisethe PUCCH secondary cell.

A command may be received at 2620 initiating transmission of a preambleon the first TAG. According to an embodiment, the command may bereceived when a time alignment timer of the first TAG is not running.

A response comprising a timing advance command (TAC) in subframe m maybe received at 2630.

Transmission of uplink signals on the first TAG may be started on orbefore subframe m+4 at 2640. According to an embodiment, the uplinksignals may comprise uplink transport blocks transmitted on a physicaluplink shared channel. According to an embodiment, the uplink signalsmay comprise sounding reference signals.

Transmission of valid channel state information (CSI) on the PUCCHsecondary cell on or after subframe m+6 may be started at 2650.According to an embodiment, the CSI may be for an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group.

According to an embodiment, a time alignment timer of the first TAG maybe started on or before subframe m+4. According to an embodiment, uplinktransmission timing on or after subframe m+6 may be adjusted.

According to an embodiment, an activation command may be received beforereceiving the command. The activation command may be received insubframe n. The activation command may be configured to activate thePUCCH secondary cell. The activation command may be configured to starta deactivation timer in subframe n+8.

FIG. 27 is an example flow diagram as per an aspect of an embodiment ofthe present invention. A base station may transmit at least one messageto a wireless device at 2710. The message may comprise configurationparameters of a plurality of cells. The plurality of cells may begrouped into a plurality of timing advance groups (TAGs). The pluralityof cells may comprise a primary cell and a PUCCH secondary cell. Theprimary cell may comprise a primary physical uplink control channelPUCCH. The PUCCH secondary cell may comprise a secondary PUCCH. ThePUCCH secondary cell may be in a first TAG in the plurality of TAGs.

According to an embodiment, the plurality of cells may be grouped into aplurality of PUCCH groups. The plurality of PUCCH groups may comprise aprimary PUCCH group and a secondary PUCCH group. The primary PUCCH groupmay comprise the primary cell. The secondary PUCCH group may comprisethe PUCCH secondary cell.

A command may be transmitted at 2720 initiating transmission of apreamble on the first TAG. According to an embodiment, the command maybe transmitted when a time alignment timer of the first TAG is notrunning.

A response comprising a timing advance command (TAC) in subframe m maybe transmitted at 2730. Reception of uplink signals on the first TAG maybe started on or before subframe m+4 at 2740. According to anembodiment, the uplink signals may comprise uplink transport blockstransmitted on a physical uplink shared channel. According to anembodiment, the uplink signals may comprise sounding reference signals.

Transmission of valid channel state information (CSI) on the PUCCHsecondary cell on or after subframe m+6 may be started at 2750.According to an embodiment, the CSI may be for an activated cell in thesecondary PUCCH group.

According to an embodiment, a time alignment timer of the first TAG maybe started on or before subframe m+4. According to an embodiment, uplinksignals with adjusted uplink transmission timing on or after subframem+6 may be received.

According to an embodiment, an activation command may be transmittedbefore transmitting the command. The activation command may betransmitted in subframe n. The activation command may be configured toactivate the PUCCH secondary cell. The activation command may beconfigured to start a deactivation timer in subframe n+8.

A primary PUCCH group may comprise a group of serving cells includingPCell whose PUCCH signaling is associated with the PUCCH on PCell. APUCCH group may comprise either primary PUCCH group or a secondary PUCCHgroup. A PUCCH SCell may comprise a Secondary Cell configured withPUCCH. A secondary PUCCH group may comprise a group of SCells whosePUCCH signalling is associated with the PUCCH on the PUCCH SCell. ATiming Advance Group may comprise a group of serving cells configured byan RRC and that, for the cells with an UL configured, use the sametiming reference cell and the same Timing Advance value. A PrimaryTiming Advance Group may comprise a Timing Advance Group containing thePCell. A Secondary Timing Advance Group may comprise a Timing AdvanceGroup not containing the PCell.

A PUCCH may be transmitted on a PCell, a PUCCH SCell (if such isconfigured in CA) and on a PSCell (in DC). The configured set of servingcells for a UE may therefore consists of one PCell and one or moreSCells. If DC is not configured, one additional PUCCH may be configuredon an SCell, the PUCCH SCell. When a PUCCH SCell is configured, an RRCmay configure the mapping of each serving cell to a Primary PUCCH groupor a Secondary PUCCH group (e.g., for each SCell whether the PCell orthe PUCCH SCell is used for the transmission of ACK/NAKs and CSIreports).

In RRC_CONNECTED, the eNB may be responsible for maintaining the timingadvance. Serving cells, having an UL to which the same timing advanceapplies (typically corresponding to the serving cells hosted by the samereceiver) and using the same timing reference cell, may be grouped in atiming advance group (TAG). Each TAG may comprise at least one servingcell with a configured uplink, and the mapping of each serving cell to aTAG may be configured by an RRC.

When a timeAlignmentTimer expires, if the timeAlignmentTimer isassociated with the pTAG, the following actions may occur: flush allHARQ buffers for all serving cells; notify RRC to release PUCCH for allserving cells; notify RRC to release SRS for all serving cells; clearany configured downlink assignments and uplink grants; and/or considerall running timeAlignmentTimers as expired. Otherwise, if thetimeAlignmentTimer is associated with an sTAG, then the followingactions may occur for all Serving Cells belonging to this TAG: flush allHARQ buffers; notify RRC to release SRS; and/or notify RRC to releasePUCCH, if configured.

If the HARQ process is equal to the broadcast process; and/or if thetimeAlignmentTimer, associated with the TAG containing the serving cellon which the HARQ feedback is to be transmitted, is stopped or expired:do not indicate the generated positive or negative acknowledgement tothe physical layer.

If the UE does not have a valid TA for transmitting on an SCell then theUE may be capable to perform downlink actions related to the SCellactivation command as for the SCell being activated on the PUCCH SCellno later than in subframe n+Tactivate_basic and may be capable toperform uplink actions related to the SCell activation command for theSCell being activated on the PUCCH SCell no later than in subframen+Tdelay_PUCCH SCell and may transmit a valid CSI report for the SCellbeing activated on the PUCCH SCell no later than in subframen+Tdelay_PUCCH SCell, where: Tdelay_PUCCHSCell=Tactivate_basic+T1+T2+T3.

T1 may be the delay uncertainty in acquiring the first available PRACHoccasion in the PUCCH SCell. T1 may be up to 25 subframes and the actualvalue of T1 may depend upon the PRACH configuration used in the PUCCHSCell. T2 may be the delay for obtaining a valid TA command for the sTAGto which the SCell configured with PUCCH belongs. T2 may be up to 13subframes. T3 may be the delay for applying the received TA for uplingtransmission. T3 may be 6 subframes. The above delay(s) (Tdelay_PUCCHSCell) may apply provided that: the UE has received a PDCCH order toinitiate an RA procedure on the PUCCH SCell within Tactivate_basic,otherwise additional delay to activate the SCell may be expected; and/orthe RA on PUCCH SCell may not interrupted by the RA on a PCell,otherwise additional delay(s) to activate the SCell may be expected.

Higher layers may indicate a 20-bit UL Grant to the physical layer. Thismay be referred to as the Random Access Response Grant in the physicallayer.

The term “UL/DL configuration” may refer to the higher layer parametersubframeAssignment unless specified otherwise.

For a FDD and a normal HARQ operation, the UE may upon detection on agiven serving cell of a PDCCH/EPDCCH with DCI format 0/4 and/or a PHICHtransmission in subframe n intended for the UE, adjust the correspondingPUSCH transmission in subframe n+4 according to the PDCCH/EPDCCH andPHICH information. For an FDD-TDD and/or a normal HARQ operation and/ora PUSCH for serving cell c with frame structure type 1, the UE may upondetection of a PDCCH/EPDCCH with DCI format 0/4 and/or a PHICHtransmission in subframe n intended for the UE, adjust the correspondingPUSCH transmission for serving cell c in subframe n+4 according to thePDCCH/EPDCCH and PHICH information.

In this specification, “a” and “an” and similar phrases are to beinterpreted as “at least one” and “one or more.” In this specification,the term “may” is to be interpreted as “may, for example.” In otherwords, the term “may” is indicative that the phrase following the term“may” is an example of one of a multitude of suitable possibilities thatmay, or may not, be employed to one or more of the various embodiments.If A and B are sets and every element of A is also an element of B, A iscalled a subset of B. In this specification, only non-empty sets andsubsets are considered. For example, possible subsets of B={cell1,cell2} are: {cell1}, {cell2}, and {cell1, cell2}.

In this specification, parameters (Information elements: IEs) maycomprise one or more objects, and each of those objects may comprise oneor more other objects. For example, if parameter (IE) N comprisesparameter (IE) M, and parameter (IE) M comprises parameter (IE) K, andparameter (IE) K comprises parameter (information element) J, then, forexample, N comprises K, and N comprises J. In an example embodiment,when one or more messages comprise a plurality of parameters, it impliesthat a parameter in the plurality of parameters is in at least one ofthe one or more messages, but does not have to be in each of the one ormore messages.

Many of the elements described in the disclosed embodiments may beimplemented as modules. A module is defined here as an isolatableelement that performs a defined function and has a defined interface toother elements. The modules described in this disclosure may beimplemented in hardware, software in combination with hardware,firmware, wetware (i.e hardware with a biological element) or acombination thereof, all of which are behaviorally equivalent. Forexample, modules may be implemented as a software routine written in acomputer language configured to be executed by a hardware machine (suchas C, C++, Fortran, Java, Basic, Matlab or the like) or amodeling/simulation program such as Simulink, Stateflow, GNU Octave, orLabVIEWMathScript. Additionally, it may be possible to implement modulesusing physical hardware that incorporates discrete or programmableanalog, digital and/or quantum hardware. Examples of programmablehardware comprise: computers, microcontrollers, microprocessors,application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs); field programmablegate arrays (FPGAs); and complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs).Computers, microcontrollers and microprocessors are programmed usinglanguages such as assembly, C, C++ or the like. FPGAs, ASICs and CPLDsare often programmed using hardware description languages (HDL) such asVHSIC hardware description language (VHDL) or Verilog that configureconnections between internal hardware modules with lesser functionalityon a programmable device. Finally, it needs to be emphasized that theabove mentioned technologies are often used in combination to achievethe result of a functional module.

The disclosure of this patent document incorporates material which issubject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection tothe facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or thepatent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Officepatent file or records, for the limited purposes required by law, butotherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example, and notlimitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevantart(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope. In fact, after reading theabove description, it will be apparent to one skilled in the relevantart(s) how to implement alternative embodiments. Thus, the presentembodiments should not be limited by any of the above describedexemplary embodiments. In particular, it should be noted that, forexample purposes, the above explanation has focused on the example(s)using FDD communication systems. However, one skilled in the art willrecognize that embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in asystem comprising one or more TDD cells (e.g. frame structure 2 and/orframe structure 3-licensed assisted access). The disclosed methods andsystems may be implemented in wireless or wireline systems. The featuresof various embodiments presented in this invention may be combined. Oneor many features (method or system) of one embodiment may be implementedin other embodiments. Only a limited number of example combinations areshown to indicate to one skilled in the art the possibility of featuresthat may be combined in various embodiments to create enhancedtransmission and reception systems and methods.

In addition, it should be understood that any figures which highlightthe functionality and advantages, are presented for example purposesonly. The disclosed architecture is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be utilized in ways other than thatshown. For example, the actions listed in any flowchart may bere-ordered or only optionally used in some embodiments.

Further, the purpose of the Abstract of the Disclosure is to enable theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, andespecially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art whoare not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determinequickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of thetechnical disclosure of the application. The Abstract of the Disclosureis not intended to be limiting as to the scope in any way.

Finally, it is the applicant's intent that only claims that include theexpress language “means for” or “step for” be interpreted under 35U.S.C. 112, paragraph 6. Claims that do not expressly include the phrase“means for” or “step for” are not to be interpreted under 35 U.S.C. 112.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: transmitting, by abase station to a wireless device, configuration parameters of aplurality of cells, wherein: the plurality of cells are grouped intotiming groups; and the plurality of cells are grouped into controlchannel groups comprising: a primary control channel group comprising aprimary cell with a primary control channel received from the wirelessdevice; and a secondary control channel group comprising a controlsecondary cell with a secondary control channel received from thewireless device, wherein the control secondary cell is in a first timinggroup of the timing groups; and in response to expiration of a timealignment timer of the first timing group: stopping transmission ofdownlink shared channel transport blocks to the wireless device via afirst secondary cell in the secondary control channel group, the firstsecondary cell being different from the control secondary cell; andcontinuing transmission of downlink multicast channel transport blocksto the wireless device via the first secondary cell.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising notifying a radio resource control layer torelease the secondary control channel in response to the expiration ofthe time alignment timer of the first timing group.
 3. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising stopping reception of positiveacknowledgement or negative acknowledgement for downlink hybridautomatic repeat request (HARQ) processes of an activated cell in thesecondary control channel group in response to the expiration of thetime alignment timer of the first timing group.
 4. The method of claim1, further comprising stopping reception of channel state informationfor an activated cell in the secondary control channel group in responseto the expiration of the time alignment timer of the first timing group.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first timing group is considered:out-of-sync in response to the time alignment timer being expired or notrunning; and in-sync in response to the time alignment timer running. 6.The method of claim 1, further comprising clearing any configureddownlink assignments transmitted for an activated cell in the secondarycontrol channel group in response to the expiration of the timealignment timer of the first timing group.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising continuing reception of uplink packets and uplinksounding reference signals on a serving cell in response to theexpiration of the time alignment timer of the first timing group,wherein the serving cell is in the secondary control channel group andthe serving cell is not in the first timing group.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising flushing hybrid automatic repeat request(HARQ) processes for downlink shared channel transport blocks on anactivated cell in the secondary control channel group in response to theexpiration of the time alignment timer of the first timing group.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the timing groups comprise: the first timinggroup, uplink transmission timing in the first timing group is based ona first cell in the first timing group; and a second timing group,uplink transmission timing in the second timing group is based on asecond cell in the second timing group.
 10. The method of claim 1,wherein the configuration parameters comprise: a first time alignmenttimer information element (IE) for the first timing group; and a secondtime alignment timer IE for a second timing group of the timing groups.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the control channel groups arephysical uplink control channel (PUCCH) groups.
 12. The method of claim1, wherein the timing groups are timing advance groups (TAGs).
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein: the primary control channel is a primaryphysical uplink control channel; and the secondary control channel is asecondary physical uplink control channel.
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein the downlink multicast channel transport blocks are transmittedvia a multicast channel.
 15. The method of claim 2, further comprisingstopping reception of positive acknowledgement or negativeacknowledgement for downlink hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ)processes of an activated cell in the secondary control channel group inresponse to the expiration of the time alignment timer of the firsttiming group.
 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising stoppingreception of channel state information for an activated cell in thesecondary control channel group in response to the expiration of thetime alignment timer of the first timing group.
 17. The method of claim16, further comprising clearing any configured downlink assignmentstransmitted for the activated cell in the secondary control channelgroup in response to the expiration of the time alignment timer of thefirst timing group.
 18. The method of claim 17, further comprisingcontinuing reception of uplink packets and uplink sounding referencesignals on a serving cell in response to the expiration of the timealignment timer of the first timing group, wherein the serving cell isin the secondary control channel group and the serving cell is not inthe first timing group.
 19. The method of claim 18, further comprisingflushing HARQ processes for downlink shared channel transport blocks onthe activated cell in the secondary control channel group in response tothe expiration of the time alignment timer of the first timing group.20. The method of claim 2, further comprising flushing hybrid automaticrepeat request (HARQ) processes for downlink shared channel transportblocks on an activated cell in the secondary control channel group inresponse to the expiration of the time alignment timer of the firsttiming group.